Political Hotsheet
By

Stephanie Condon /

CBS News/ January 26, 2012, 7:37 PM

Gingrich leads by 9 points in national GOP poll

Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich holds a 9-point lead over his GOP rival Mitt Romney among Republican voters nationwide, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

The new survey comes five days ahead of the Florida Republican primary, where polls suggest Romney has the edge. Victory in Florida could give either Romney or Gingrich the momentum they need to pull ahead as the frontrunner.

Gingrich won 37 percent support in the new poll, while Romney earned 28 percent. Former Sen. Rick Santorum garnered 18 percent support while Rep. Ron Paul won 12 percent. The poll was conducted January 22-24, right after Gingrich's surprise victory in the South Carolina primary.

While he bests Romney among Republicans, voters overall have reservations about Gingrich. As many as 48 percent of Americans say they have negative feelings about the former House speaker, compared to 36 percent who say that about Romney and 39 percent for President Obama.

Mr. Obama beats both candidates in head-to-head match ups in the poll but performs more strongly against Gingrich. Against Romney, the president wins 49 percent to 43 percent, while against Gingrich he wins 55 percent to 37 percent.

Against a generic, unnamed Republican, Mr. Obama wins 47 percent to 42 percent.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
10 Comments Add a Comment
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xxoxxoxx9 says:
Newt's personal life says a lot about the man and his abilities to be stable and loyal.
I have made a humorous video that I believe shows how his wives must have felt about his loyalties. You may see it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSsMRe6BJE
Hope you enjoy!
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buzzm11 says:
Illegal Immigration Directory
http://forumsforjustice.com/forums/showpost.php?p=933&postcount=1
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buzzm11 says:
Our illegal immigration Directory http://******/xmiGyx
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JulianAlien says:
Santorum,Newt,and Romney are throwing away your vote.Ron Paul is the only one that can beat Obama.
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mikethebarba says:
10 minutes and not 1 comment. Shows how important this is.
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mikethebarba says:
First I am not voting for either major party. Obama's a disappointment at best & the rest are an embarrassment to anyone with a moderate intellect. As to Gingrich, that he is even in this carnival is beyond comprehension. It has never been more apparent that the leadership is bought and paid for by special interest & business, especially oil, the primary reason we are involved in the Middle East. Terrorism is the easy sell.
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listenup01 says:
If you read through that article twice, you can literally see the handwriting on the wall! The American people are smarter than I had thought!
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listenup01 says:
If you read through that article twice, you can literally see the handwriting on the wall!
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Mr_Cuevas says:
It is sad seen citizens in favor of the most high percent (%) paid as tax. if is 30% or 15%. Including the strong media support on it. Who rather pay 30% instead of 15%? those who had being living attached to Washington. If the rest of the people want to have a more efficient government, reduce the size of the federal structure and balance the budget and get out of debt, like me. We need to tell them that we do not want to pay more than 15% on federal tax. There is nothing wrong that wealthier pay 15% what is wrong that I pay 30%. Reduce the government and the taxes so i could pay 15% as the wealthier people do.
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ProgressNow says:
Yep...he got the "Moon base" bump...
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