In the never-ending war to capture the nomination of the Republican party for U.S. President in 2012, another dramatic development in Iowa knocks the socks off the candidates and pundits.
Specifically, as reported, in part, at the reference, Newt Gingrich’s meteoric rise to front-runner status has been reversed dramatically:
DES MOINES -- A new survey from pollster Scott Rasmussen shows support for Newt Gingrich in Iowa has fallen sharply in recent days. The poll shows the former House speaker with the support of 20 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers -- down from 32 percent in the last Rasmussen survey released November 15.In recent days, conservative voices like The National Review and others have come out against Gingrich. Ron Paul has been relentless in his attacks and Mitt Romney even called Newt “Zany.”
Gingrich has now fallen into second place in the Iowa race, behind Mitt Romney, who is at 23 percent, up from 19 percent in the last Rasmussen survey.
In the new survey, every candidate but Gingrich gained support in the last few weeks. The biggest gainers were Romney, up four points; Paul, up eight points; and Perry, up four points. Michele Bachmann climbed three points, as did Jon Huntsman, who has been to Iowa a grand total of one time in the campaign.
Gingrich, on the other hand, fell 12 points.
"This is the fifth consecutive monthly poll with a new leader," Rasmussen says in an email. "It was Bachmann in August, then Perry, Cain, and Gingrich. Amidst all the volatility, Romney's numbers have held steady each month, and Ron Paul has been in double digits each month."
Rasmussen warns that the race remains volatile, with only 40 percent of likely caucus-goers sure of how they will vote.”
Zany? How in the hell can a zany man be so damn competitive? Weak candidate pool?
http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/poll-dramatic-drop-gingrich-support-iowa/258131
