Gingrich, Romney tied in new national poll
(CNN) – A new national poll released Monday shows Newt Gingrich surging to a statistical tie with rival presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The former House speaker now has the backing of 28% of registered Republicans to Romney's 29% nationwide, according to the latest results from Gallup's daily tracking poll.
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Voters were surveyed Wednesday through Saturday, mostly before and partially after Gingrich's South Carolina primary victory.
The poll was also done during a week with two strong debate performances for the former House speaker, with voters questioned partly before but mostly after the CNN/Southern Republican Presidential Debate on Thursday night - just two days before the primary.
Gingrich's new poll numbers mark a big boost from his standing a week ago, shortly after the New Hampshire primary when 14% of those surveyed said they would back the candidate, while 37% preferred Romney.
The results come as both candidates storm through Florida ahead of the Sunshine State's critical primary on January 31.
Team Romney has already sharpened its offense against Gingrich, as the former Massachusetts governor has been hitting the former speaker as an un-electable, "highly erratic" Washington insider. On Monday, Romney warned voters Gingrich could result in an "October surprise" should he make it to the general election as the party's nominee.
Gingrich, meanwhile, continues to paint Romney as a "Massachusetts moderate" who couldn't go toe-to-toe with Obama and argued Romney's latest attacks are an act of desperation.
"If you've been campaigning for six years and you see it slip away, you get desperate," Gingrich said Monday at a campaign even in Tampa, Florida.
The same Gallup poll shows less drastic changes for the other two candidates in the race. Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum had the support of 11%, down from 14% last week. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who plans to largely skip campaigning in Florida, came in with 13% support, up one point from last week.
Gallup surveyed 1,221 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents by telephone Jan. 18-22, with a sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
- CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Also see:
Romney takes aim at Gingrich in Florida
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Nothing but the truth. The only danger to this country is the repo party. They spout nothing but hate lies every chance they can. It is not hard to see by the people they have campaingning . They have no morals and bashing the president will not change that fact . Actually it brings out the differences clearly. One day a historian now an adviisor? Come on why caymun islands? They are so full of themselves and the political process is showing them up for what they are. So keep trying to divert our attention by calling the president names we don't buy it.
Boop bopping de boop!! Right on:)
There was a guy in Germany in the 30's who got elected by some desperate folks. If we want to, we can have a similar guy in charge starting in Jan. 2013 (assuming the world doesn't end in Dec. 2012). All we have to do is let hatred and racism take over, vote for Nut Gangrene, and badda-bing.
I understand the dilemma. If you believe in the politics of the GOP you have to make this awful choice. Paul isn't going to make it. He's good in some ways, and extreme in others – also unelectable. Romney? Flipper. Grass roots doesn't like him and he's got limited TP support. Just can't get the win. And now Gingrich? no establishment support with a smarmy background. Santorum? Google problem and really extreme socially.
I sympathize. That's why I'm in the Democractic Party. Those are not solutions, those are problems you have there. I'm voting Obama 2012... and happily so. Err... good luck with that mess you have there.
i wonder if president obama had did what the now repub candidates are advacating that he should have let the country go to hell when we were losing 3/4 of a million jobs per month. when the country was declining at 9 percent, and the stock markets had gone to hell. i wonder if folks be walking around eating food out of trash can if a repub was at the helm. things that makes you go mmmmm.
Bringing our troops home, equal rights for women, equal constitutional rights for everyone, and tax rates the lowest in 50 years is now called 'socialist' programs by right wingnuts.
Wire Palladin, S. F. - My Daddy used to say, "Son, the republicans will always bet against America, that's how money is made."
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The apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it??!! Proof positive that insanity is hereditary.
The choice here is between a elitist, corporate lap-dog for the Koch brothers and a slimy, unethical, adulterous politician/lobbyist. On behalf of the Democrat Party I'd like to tahnk the Republicans for this generoius gift! Independents will have no problem voting for the Democrats given this ridiculous choice.
The more voters see of this absurd ugly primary, the more they'll be turned off by all of the Republican candidates and the party they represent. Not to mention the fact that, after the economy has added back another million jobs by the fall, whoever the Republicans nominate is going to look pretty stupid advocating a return to the Bush policies (even more so than they already do).
ROLMFAO. 'Grand Old Party indeed. Thanks for the laughs. – Giddy with glee, yours truly, DNC.'
Truth – any insult coming from you is like a badge of honor to intelligent people.
Republicans are the 'food stamp party.' Never in history have so many workers had their jobs shipped over seas, 8 million jobs lost in Bush's last three years, 160 million workers' wages have been stagnant while the upper 1% has seen their wealth double.
"Obama and the Democrats are a clear and present danger to this country and its economy."
That's a neat little psychological pretzel you've tied yourself up in, seeing as how it was your GOBP deathcult that went beyond "clear and present danger" and actually tanked our economy.
38.Wire Palladin, S. F.
Truth – any insult coming from you is like a badge of honor to intelligent people
------------------------
BAM!!!
Well said Wire! lol!
Myth MorNEY is DONE!
Stick a fork in him! With all of his million$$$ and the GOP elite backing him; coupled with his SUPER PACs THUGs throwing mud, this IDIOT still can't BUY the election...and ship the United States to CAYMEN ISLAND!!!
US will be a corporation under Myth MorNEY leadership....so invariably, the United States Corporation being people too, can be shipped to CAYMEN ISLAND!!!
LOL
Obama will mop the floor with Ginrich and use Romney for the stick.
In mein kampf hitler wrote “If you want to attract the sympathies of the broadest number of people,you must tell them the crudest and stupidest things”. Betcha Newt keeps a copy along side whoevers bed he is sleeping in
Truth and Nothing But the Truth: You must either be one of the crass 1 percenters, or you are a very narrow-minded repub. Sorry, neither of these two will beat President Obama.
proud voter for Obama. Obama2012.
Newt 2012
Romney doesn't connect with people, has trouble thinking spontaneously, and still garners about 25% in most races. If Santorum drops out, does anybody think that Romney will win many primaries? Unless Gingrich undoes himself, Romney is in trouble... So far it is Romney who has trouble with "insertion of foot in mouth"...
@Truth – Hmmmmm - Wasn't Newt's own mother bipolar also? I guess it IS inherited.
In a political quandary, not so far away.... "Afraid not of the Newt my DEM pâté won? You will be... you will be."
ATTENTION REPUBLICANS..... You guys need to realize two things. One, there is no real "winner" of a presidential debate, because there is no judge to tally up points. And two, even if there was a "winner", you don't win delegates or extra votes from winning. So please STOP using the fact that Gingrinch could beat Obama at a debate (which he probably can because he'll shout and throw a temper tantrum like a fat kid who dropped his twinkie) as a reason for him to be president. My dad would probably beat Rick Santorum in a debate, but should he be president? NOOOOO... SO yeah, debates don't mean anything but advertising. So sorry Grinch fans, but if you're lucky, Newt might be looking for a new mouth, I mean, congressional aide...
Stick a fork in republicans for 2012 they are done.