New poll shows 4-way tie in Iowa as Ron Paul moves to top tier

AP Photo/Richard Shiro

The Iowa caucuses are just seven weeks away, but Republican voters in the nation's first presidential nominating state seem as torn as ever over the GOP field.

A new Bloomberg poll of likely caucus participants shows a four-way tie in Iowa, with Rep. Ron Paul joining Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain in the top tier of candidates. Underscoring the uncertainty in the race, 60 percent of respondents said they could be persuaded to back someone other than their first choice for the nomination.

The poll, conducted November 10 - 12 by the West Des Moines-based firm Selzer & Co, shows Cain in the lead with 20 percent, while Paul comes in at 19 percent. Romney wins 18 percent support, and Gingrich earns 17 percent. The margin of error is 4.4 percent.

While Christian conservatives have more influence in Iowa than they do in the rest of the nation, only a quarter of likely caucus-goers say social issues are more important this year than economic issues. As many as 71 percent say they're voting on issues like jobs and taxes.

The focus on economic issues has likely advantaged Paul, who is known for his strong libertarian views. The Texas congressman wins the most support, 32 percent, from likely caucus-goers who say they've made up their minds. Romney wins 25 percent of those who are decided, followed by Gingrich at 17 percent. On top of that, 69 percent of Iowa voters who supported Paul in 2008 are once again supporting him.

Just 41 percent of Romney's support comes from Iowa voters who supported him in the 2008 caucuses. More than half, 58 percent, of likely caucus-goers said support for a health insurance mandate (which Romney passed in Massachusetts as governor and which President Obama passed at the federal level) would "rule out" their support for that candidate.

Cain's standing hasn't dipped dramatically since revelations of sexual harassment charges against him from the 1990's came out. Still, 37 percent of Iowans are waiting for more information before deciding whether they believe Cain's denials.

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28 Photos

Ron Paul on the campaign trail

[gamok]

Romney pushed Romney care, Perry pushed NAFTA North American Super Highway and forced vaccinations, Cain was a Federal Reserve board member and Chairman, Gingrich is a New World Order globalist. Everyone of them will expand government. Look at what they do, not what they say. The only one that has talked straight to the American people is Ron Paul. Please vote for Ron Paul.

[brasileira2]

I'm with you.
I don't understand why more people are not supporting Ron Paul.

I am Ron Paul all the way.

[americaforamericians]

while i voted for obama last time, he has turned out to be 4 more years of bush, he has not ended the wars, he's moving the troops to kuwait, to start a war with syria and iran, if re-elected or right before the general election, he did not close gitmo and all meetings are held in secret, obama lied about everything, including his birth cert. and passport, i have to vote for ron paul this time, also, paul's record in congress shows he puts the american people ,first,thats the main thing from exposing all the dirty dealing of the federal reserve corporation to trying to get a phyiscal audit of the gold in fort knox, because there is none left, just to name a few, the media again is trying to pick the candidates for us, by omitting ron paul from the news paul would get rid of the fed. and the irs since when in 1913 the fed. was started, the irs was also to have us pay the intrest on the federal reserve notes we borrow

[paofpa-2010]

Ron

Are you going to free the Enron management because they have did nothing wrong?

Comment:

Many Enron rise like the Phoenix, with many offspring and all settling in Houston

[VictorAshesLoveChild]

Professional politician Ron Paul is pro-kiddie porn, pro-pot, pro-abortion, anti-Social Security, anti-Medicare, and anti-military.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GIVE US THIS SENILE GYNECOLOGIST AS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN 2012, so I don't have to change the bumper sticker on my car .

[AmericaCanBeBetter]

I can understand your viewpoint that Ron Paul is against Social Security, Medicare or Military even though you're completely off track. Sometimes it's hard to realize that there are better mechanisms to achieve the same objective, which is taking care of seniors; ensuring citizens can receive quality medical care and protecting our country.

That said, the 'pro-kiddie porn' statement is way over the top and it really makes me question the value of encouraging idiots like yourself to vote. I think it would be best if you went back to bed and let your mom and pop wake you up before breakfast is done- the big kids here well handle the element of balancing freedom and protection.

[alimarch]

If your bumper sticker says 'Don't Puke in My Car', then by all means just leave it on.

[Ajay_India]

I'm from India and I really hope US gets behind Ron Paul. So jealous right now as nobody amongst our politicians come anywhere close to Ron Paul in their honesty, integrity, track record or focus on preventing government from run away expansion and spending (we Indians suffering from it already)

[TimB.MCSE]

I couldn't agree more. We need to stop voting for the criminals. This is precisely why he has such a rough time. The US press is bought and paid for on both sides, and continue to label him as invalid, or crazy.
The only crazy people are the people that continue to vote for corruption, something that Paul has no part of.

[VictorAshesLoveChild]

YOu never read the Libertarian Platform, did you?

It's posted ON THEIR WEBSITE (i.e., this isn't some Snopes thing).

So, no, no gynecologists in the White House. Mr. Paul is undoubtedly well qualified in the professional deployment of a speculum, but his knowledge of economics is abysmal.

[wProsperity]

He wants to protect your liberties, not dismantle the government. Ron Paul was able to get a partial "Audit The Fed" bill passed which is the first step in a long process of ending the Fed, protecting our currency, and your prosperity. Ron Paul is the candidate for achievers, those who would like to assume responsibility for themselves, and do not want the blessings of mass opinion to influence the taking away of their personal God given rights.

[noloyalisti]

Ron Paul is a wacko, he wants to get rid of affirmative action, minimum wage, OSHA, EPA, social security, estate tax.

In short make this country look like Haiti or Nigeria, a libertatian paradise for the Top 1% slavemasters. That's why he has no chance even for the failed and obsolete Republicon Party of fools and extremist wackos.

[wProsperity]

He wants to protect your liberties, not dismantle the government. Ron Paul was able to get a partial "Audit The Fed" bill passed which is the first step in a long process of ending the Fed, protecting our currency, and your prosperity. Ron Paul is the candidate for achievers, those who would like to assume responsibility for themselves, and do not want the blessings of mass opinion to influence the taking away of their personal God given rights.

[aldove]

Ron Paul is a wacko, he wants to get rid of affirmative action, minimum wage, OSHA, EPA, social security, estate tax.

What's "wacko" about any of that?

[anotherday123]

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that makes any sense.

Ron Paul 2012 !

[Progress4USA]

To you...

[pydies05]

I am an Australian but I follow politics around the globe.I seriously hope that the U.S people get behind Ron Paul as he is the sole candidate that makes any sense,all the others are full of hot air,make mistakes because they have no idea what they're saying & wouldn't know how to run a country if their life depended on it.All the candidates,with the exception of Ron Paul,are puppets for the globalists.And that includes Obama,who is here in Australia to promote a joint military base here.(Another strategic point from which to launch U.S bombs from,& another topic for another day).
So all you American people who want change for your country,for the benefit of the people,& not the Globalists,get behind & support Ron Paul.GO YOU GOOD THING

[Progress4USA]

I live in Luxemburg and I say OBAMA 2012. Luxemburg loves you Mr. President!!!

[mountainstates1]

I think Republicans should go into the business of selling "cuckoo clocks" because everytime one of these GOP candidates open their mouths that's what it sounds like.

[alimarch]

Effective hearing is key, also.

[DeHota]

Wow invisible_ninja cool name! you sound like a 15 year old getting paid per post. Nothing like a troll who is looking for a fight!