The GOP race in the first caucus state of Iowa is in flux, but new polling from Pew shows the national race in the same place it’s been for a few weeks: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 35 percent of Republican voters, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney 21 and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) in third with 8 percent.
The Pew data shows that while the GOP contest seems to have been defined by a weak frontrunner in Mitt Romney and party faithful attempting to coalesce around one anti-Romney candidate, there’s no difference in enthusiasm between the two groups. But there is a new dynamic on perceived electability: the Pew poll shows that Republicans are starting to see Gingrich as the candidate who can win in 2012. From Pew:
There is no difference in intensity between those who support Gingrich and those who support Romney. About three-in-ten among both groups (33% Romney, 29% Gingrich) say they support their candidate strongly; far more say they support their candidate only moderately (66% Romney, 69% Gingrich)….As Gingrich has moved into the lead for the GOP nomination, he also is increasingly viewed as having the best chance of any Republican to defeat Barack Obama. Currently, 35% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say that Gingrich has the best chance of beating Obama next November, up from just 13% a month ago.
