A new poll from Iowa State University is the second survey in four days to show a lead for Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) among likely Iowa GOP caucus-goers. Paul gets 27.5 percent in the new findings, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich second with 25.3 percent and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in the third spot at 17.5 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has also recovered slightly in the state, hitting 11.2 percent after being relegated to single digits in the state during October and November. The rest of the field is in single digits.
Pollsters also made the argument that Paul’s support is more solid than previous frontrunners in the state. From ISU:
“I think Paul probably under-polls,” said Dave Peterson, interim director of the Harkin Institute of Public Policy at Iowa State and associate professor of political science who assisted with the poll. “His supporters are younger and more likely to reply on a cell phone, so he’s probably going to perform better than his polling suggests. His supporters also are dedicated and will likely turn out on caucus night and not change their minds.”
