Poll: Gingrich quickly gaining ground on Romney

By: Leigh Ann Caldwell
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Getty Images)

Mitt Romney's lead in the race for the Republican nomination for president is collapsing before his eyes as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is quickly gaining on the former Massachusetts governor.

Among likely registered Republican voters, Romney is leading nationally with 30 percent, compared to 20 percent for Gingrich, according to Gallup's daily tracking poll released Friday.

A day earlier, Romney's lead was 17 points. Five days earlier, it was 23 points.

Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport told CBS News Political Hotsheet that the 2012 campaign is more volatile than typical election years and is a "fascinating saga."

Newport said candidates have been "up and down, more than we've ever seen before. Republicans are not locked in this year."

The poll results encompass voters' position between January 15th and January 19th, a five-day stretch that includes the withdrawals of both Texas Gov. Rick Perry (Thursday) and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (Monday). There were also a pair of debates in South Carolina during that time, and Gingrich performed strongly in both events. Gingrich received a standing ovation for slamming the national media after CNN's John King asked about an explosive report his second wife had accused him of seeking an open marriage with her before they later divorced so he could marry the other woman, Callista, who is now his third wife.

Romney struggled in both debates and was forced to play defense in response to moderator questions and candidate attacks about his tax returns, abortion and his role in shaping health care in Massachusetts.

This is a good week for Gingrich, according to election analyst Nate Silver who analyzed a variety of polls released this week in South Carolina, and he surmised that Gingrich is in a strong position ahead of primary day Saturday. "The FiveThirtyEight forecast model, trying to evaluate all of this information as objectively as it can, sees substantial momentum" for Gingrich, Silver wrote on his FiveThirtyEight blog on the New York Times website.

Leigh Ann Caldwell
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by noloyalisti January 21, 2012 5:36 PM EST: I can't even imagine who in their right mind would even consider voting for any Republiclown for any office after what they have done to America. It must be the big corporate money and a bunch of self hating Republicons who keep these morons in business. OMG.; Reply to this comment


by Alex Vallas January 21, 2012 8:27 AM EST: I have read the stats pasted below:
"Among likely registered Republican voters, Romney is leading nationally with 30 percent, compared to 20 percent for Gingrich, according to Gallup's daily tracking poll released Friday.
A day earlier, Romney's lead was 17 points. Five days earlier, it was 23 points".
---------------------------------------
Am I reading wrong? Looks to me by these stats that Romney is gaining. If he now has 30% and led by 17 points a day earlier and 23 five days before - 30 sounds like more than 17 or 23.
In any event, it shows the absurdity of the whole process. Iowa and New Hampshire are over 96% white while S.C. Republicans are also 96% white. Watching the audience in S.C. jump up and yell and applaud Gingrich's ripping of CNN was ridiculous. These are supposed to be Evangelical conservatives? The truth is, the GOP is stuck with a group of candidates sorely lacking in numerous ways.; Reply to this comment


by sped6348 January 21, 2012 5:48 AM EST: Yes, Romney's Tax Rate of about 15% turns the immoral, prevaricating nature of The NEWT into prized presidential material for the Ultra-Rightwing, Ultra-Evangelical Republican Base.; Reply to this comment


by Kimbakat January 20, 2012 11:18 PM EST: My question is WHY?....when George Carlin already knew it back in 1988.

http://youtu.be/l5szw_kSYzw; Reply to this comment

by noloyalisti January 20, 2012 9:26 PM EST

Unfortunately the Republicons have no plan to help America, only to enrich the Top 1% which has already failed miserably. And everyone with even half a brain knows it.

The very last thing we want is t put any more power or money into the hands of the greedy, corrupt big corporations. They have already bribed everyone in Congress and caused a massive worldwide recession/depression that has already lasted 4 years.

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by ProgressNow January 20, 2012 10:00 PM EST: Why does the GOP hate 99% of the American People???????


by moronpolitics2 January 20, 2012 10:35 PM EST: That is the crap the Democrats and the left in general pushes. It makes less sense than the Republicans. Virtually every billionaire in America supports WHICH PARTY??? The DEMs.

by Brenda5937 January 20, 2012 7:15 PM EST

Tomorrow will be the 3rd State Presidential Primary in this country, and it has been said that the Republic Nominee will probably be decided at the completion of the South Carolina Primary. DOES THAT NOT MAKE ANYONE ANGRY AT ALL?!!! Seriously!!! 3 Primaries and the decision is made??? What about the other 47 State Primaries!!! That makes me very angry! It made me angry in 2008, too!! This needs to change to the primaries in all 50 states being held on the same day so that ALL Republican, Democratic, or Independent American voters decide the nominee. This year there is not a Democratic Primary, but in 2008 we had both. Too many voters are disenfranchised when 3 or 4 states decide who the nominee will be!!!

I wish our Republican Candidates would stop shooting at each other and talk about the changes they want to make to bring back the Economy and assure the safety of our precious Constitution.

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by ProgressNow January 20, 2012 9:01 PM EST: There's a reason they don't talk about the economy... OBAMA 2012!!!!


by moronpolitics2 January 20, 2012 10:37 PM EST: the pundits keep blabbing about it's over it's over it's over. The get paid to talk. NOT to think. We are doing PROPORTIONAL DELEGATES THIS TIME. That means that after tomorrow the delegate count is likely to be almost even NO MATTER WHO WINS. Period. The morons on TV don't seem to get that.


by franknkissy January 20, 2012 6:59 PM EST: Well we know working and poor people in South Carolina are suffering ! factories closed and industries left - but Republicans ../.what does Newt actually offer anyone but himself - A Cut in Food Stamps & Maybe A Cut in Housing Assistance ! So those poorer than their brother might suffer more !

Am I My Brother's Keeper !; Reply to this comment


by franknkissy January 20, 2012 6:59 PM EST: Well we know working and poor people in South Carolina are suffering ! factories closed and industries left - but Republicans ../.what does Newt actually offer anyone but himself - A Cut in Food Stamps & Maybe A Cut in Housing Assistance ! So those poorer than their brother might suffer more !

Am I My Brother's Keeper !; Reply to this comment


by franknkissy January 20, 2012 6:59 PM EST: Well we know working and poor people in South Carolina are suffering ! factories closed and industries left - but Republicans ../.what does Newt actually offer anyone but himself - A Cut in Food Stamps & Maybe A Cut in Housing Assistance ! So those poorer than their brother might suffer more !

Am I My Brother's Keeper !; Reply to this comment

by RationalObjectivist January 20, 2012 4:18 PM EST

You guys need to understand that if Ron Paul isn't the nominee, then Obama will surely win. Look around the internet at the RP supporters. They are tired of the same old thing and will not vote for any of the other candidates because it will just be more of the same.

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by ProgressNow January 20, 2012 5:29 PM EST: I know you guys think polls are just for strippers...but have you seen Ron Paul's poll numbers when compared to the President?