Ron Paul Catches Gingrich in Iowa

Newt clings to 1-point lead, with Romney in third

By John Johnson, Newser Staff
Suggested by bousquetcm

Posted Dec 13, 2011 5:36 PM CST

Copied

Ron Paul Now Within 1 Point of Newt Gingrich in Iowa, With Mitt Romney in Third — Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich at a presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., on Oct. 11. (AP Photo/Scott Eells, Pool)

The first chink in Newt Gingrich's surge? A new Public Policy Polling survey shows that his lead in Iowa has dropped from 9 points to 1 point in a week. And the beneficiary isn't Mitt Romney but Ron Paul. The new figures have Gingrich at 22%, down 5 points, and Paul at 21%, up 3 points. Romney sticks at 16%.

What's it all mean?

Adam Sorensen, Time: The poll could be a fluke, but "Gingrich’s lead was always tenuous and it’s not surprising that the absolutely brutal ad campaigns against him have at very least slowed his ascent."
Ed Morrissey, Hot Air: It might be time to start thinking about a deadlocked convention. "Paul winning Iowa just might mean the GOP nominating Ryan, Christie, or Daniels."
Tommy Christopher, Mediaite: "Unlike Gingrich, Ron Paul has the fundraising and organizational apparatus to take him beyond wins in early states, so a victory in Iowa could very well propel him to a brokered convention, or more." The mainstream media doesn't much like Paul's chances, "but results like these make it increasingly difficult to ignore him."

(More Ron Paul 2012 stories.)

Report an error