Poll shows Romney surging in Florida

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Campaign 2012

Mitt Romney leads Newt Gingrich by nine points in a new poll of likely Republican primary voters in Florida, the latest sign that the former Massachusetts governor has reversed the momentum Gingrich gained following his South Carolina primary victory.

The Quinnipiac University poll, released this morning, shows Romney leading Gingrich 38 percent to 29 percent, with Ron Paul following at 14 percent and Rick Santorum at 12 percent. The poll reflects a clear surge for Romney: In a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Romney led Gingrich by just two points.

Romney's increased support comes from men in the Sunshine State, who've gone from backing Gingrich 37 percent to 33 percent to backing Romney 36 percent to 29 percent. (Romney's ten point advantage among women has roughly held steady.)

In polls taken immediately after his primary win, Gingrich was leading Romney by as much as nine points. Now polls are consistently showing Romney with a lead in the high single digits.

Gingrich's best hope to close the apparent gap was probably last night's Republican presidential debate. But after shining in both debates last week in South Carolina, Gingrich has been on his heels in these debates, and Romney was widely seen as having put in the better performance last night.

Florida is a "winner-take-all" delegate state, which means the state's 50 delegates will go entirely to whoever comes out on top in the primary.

Winners and losers from last night's debate

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by bluetruckinla January 29, 2012 10:47 AM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-aeD1HXjaY

Mitt Romney could have logically been on Barack Obama's Vice Presidential (VP) Short list in 2008 presidential run if Mitt Romney did not flip-flop from the views he held in MA.Mitt Romney is a chameleon and lacks a moral compass. Anything goes to make a dollar is NOT Capitalism. Under your strict definition drug dealers are Capitalists like Mitt Romney.The drug dealer or corporate raider are both wrong. Newt Gingrich has a right and obligation to attack these forms of Capitalism. The business venture was three separate parameters is it moral, ethical, or legal. The drug dealer is immoral and illegal. Mitt Romney is immoral and unethical. Mitt Romney is not and NEVER was in business to create jobs Mitt Romney will never be president ................. Many on the CHRISTIAN right have become Pro-life Democrats because of anything goes and band wagoner Republicans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-aeD1HXjaY

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35ob97/

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35md07/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-aeD1HXjaY; Reply to this comment

by vpcharan January 28, 2012 8:15 AM EST

I don't trust the polls because establishment with deep pockets are capable, and is in fact manufacturing the polls to help their candidate. With all the past personal and personality deficiencies of Mr. Gingrich, what he saying on the stump is indeed refreshing and American people should be objective before they cast their votes. I certainly don't agree with all the proposals of Mr. Gingrich, but I give him credit for raising the right questions, which are frankly glossed over by the GOP establishment candidate as well as President Obama. We have seen what the establishment candidates have delivered to the American people during the past three plus decades; $13.8 trillions in national debt, $ 1.3 trillion budget deficit, unsustainable income inequality, eroding education system, corrupt congress and immoral and unpatriotic corporate America. Seeds of our todays fruits were planted some 40 years ago and one should not expect to eliminate these trees in a couple of years. We need honest debate of fresh ideas, not old ones; repeating old ideas over and over again is not likely to give a more desirable result. We need fundamental changes in our government, how we elect our representatives and how we judge the performance of the elected leaders.

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by billkol January 29, 2012 5:50 PM EST: I agree with you, sounds like you are going to vote democrat,as you are an advocate of democracy...........


by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money06 January 28, 2012 8:11 AM EST: I should change my screen name to baggers-are-putrid-filth; Reply to this comment


by justsane-2009 January 28, 2012 12:38 AM EST: let's give the fine folks in florida credit for realizing that an american base on the moon is not really practical, and is certainly not a good election platform at a time when services to everyone except the top 1% are being cut.; Reply to this comment


by bradkt1 January 27, 2012 11:54 PM EST: It's not about Romney reversing the momentum. Florida doesn't have anywhere near as many inbred Johnny-Reb wannabees as South Carolina does. That's all.; Reply to this comment

by billkol January 27, 2012 11:53 PM EST

vote republican......yes, vote republican....if you want the rich to get richer......the poorer to get poorer and the middle class to stay in purgatory forever..........

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by democracy8 January 28, 2012 8:13 AM EST: got that right...


by VirginiaLee78 January 28, 2012 1:35 PM EST: No, purgatory is what we've been in for the last 3 years with the current president's failed policies... that will end though this November when we elect Mitt Romney...

by kbbpll January 27, 2012 8:15 PM EST

It's the next round of the Surge Drinking Game! Only two shots this time. Hardly a buzz.

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by fedup12 January 27, 2012 9:32 PM EST: speak for yourself. im still hammered out of my gourd after the perry oops heard around the world.


by kevjustice January 27, 2012 7:59 PM EST: WILLARD(the poster boy for the 1%)romney's favorite movie is....."willard". he likes to associate with wall street RATS!; Reply to this comment


by venusvegasvada January 27, 2012 7:58 PM EST: Love to see Paul and Santorum rise above Newt. Neither of them deserve to be where they are in the polls.

Newt got where he is by standing on top of somebody else, not because he's standing on his own.; Reply to this comment


by esq777 January 27, 2012 7:18 PM EST: The Republican establishment will not let Willard "Mitt" Romney lose to Gingrich. Willard is their kind of guy, a super rich northeast elitist.; Reply to this comment