Gallup keeps a rolling tracker which includes the data from five days at a time and yesterday's report stated "Newt Gingrich has all but erased Mitt Romney's 23-percentage-point lead of a week ago among Republican voters nationally, and the two candidates are now essentially tied, at 29% for Romney and 28% for Gingrich. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum have significantly lower levels of support, at 13% and 11%, respectively."Today though, as can be seen by the graphic at the top, Gingrich has overtaken Romney's lead and is now four percentage points ahead nationwide.
Florida, which holds it's primaries on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 and which hosted last night's debate and will host one more on Thursday the 26th, is showing the same type of turnaround in polling numbers that Gallup is finding nationally.
Polls taken after Newt Gingrich's South Carolina primary win, from Insider Advantage, Rasmussen and Public Policy Polling (D), all show the same type of resurgence on the part of Gingrich. The RCP averages have Gingrich leading Romney with a 7.4 percentage point margin.
Insider Advantage on 1/22/12 shows an 8 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.
Rasmussen on 1/22/12 shows a 9 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.
PPP on 1/22-23/12 shows a 5 point lead for Gingrich over Romney.
With that said, as South Carolina clearly proved, debate performances, campaigning, superPAC ads as well as candidate ads and interviews can turn numbers around on a dime.
Going into the South Carolina primary week, polling had Mitt Romney leading Newt Gingrich by a 14 and 14 percent margin and by Saturday, January 21, 2012, primary night, Gingrich easily won South Carolina by a 12 percent margin.
Recent developments in the GOP campaign to win the Republican nomination for president are; Mitt Romney released his 2010 tax returns. Newt Gingrich authorized the released of his Freddie Mac contract. (I have it embedded HERE) News reported Mitt Romney has substantial investments with Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae. Former 2008 presidential candidate and Senator, Fred Thompson endorsed Newt Gingrich. Pro-Gingrich SuperPAC received $5 million from Dr. Miriam Adelson who is the wife of Sheldon Adelson who earlier this month donated $5 million. Ron Paul won't be in Florida on primary night he will be off campaigning in Nevada and Colorado. Rick Santorum tells Fox News this morning that Romney's attacks against Gingrich on Freddie Mac are "over the top."
Nice amount of linkage in the above paragraph... enjoy the reading.
Oh, and Barack Obama will be giving another "campaign speech" tonight. It is an annual speech a president gives called State of the Union address, but this time Obama will have a captive audience to hear him continue with his perpetual campaigning for reelection since almost all prime time channels will be tuned in.
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