The Gallup tracking poll of the national GOP race shows former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum at 15 percent, passing Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) who has held the third spot for more than a month. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is second with 19 percent, having fallen from a high in the mid-thirties at the beginning of December. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is in the lead with 27 percent.
The Gallup tracking poll averages 200 interviews a night with registered Republicans over a five day period.
