Newt Gingrich’s Iowa campaign appears to be collapsing under the weight of prolific negative advertising by multiple opponents and outside groups. The latest results from Democratic pollster PPP show Ron Paul overtaking Gingrich for the top spot with 23% of the vote.
Gingrich is in second place with 20% of the vote and Romney is at 14%. Notably, several of the other candidates have double digit shares, giving them some potential for a last minute surge: Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Santorum are all tied for fourth at 10%. Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson each are at 4%.
For Gingrich, the downward trend is dramatically steep. His share of the vote has dropped in PPP’s polling from 27% to 22% to 14% in just two weeks and his personal favorability is plummeting even faster. Republicans viewed him positively by a 62-31 margin two weeks ago — now he’s underwater, with a 46/47 rating.
Paul, whose campaign has impressed observers with its well-organized and motivated supporters, is drawing strong support from voters under 45, whom he leads with 33% to Romney 16% and Gingrich’s 11%. Paul also gets 35% of Democrats and Independents who plan to vote in the caucuses, some 24% of respondents. Romney is doing well among seniors, where Gingrich’s hard-earned appeal appears to be wearing off. Romney has 31% of 65+ voters to 18% for Gingrich and 15% for Paul.
One notable plus for Romney: 25% of Iowans seem him as the most electable candidate, the most of any Republican candidate and a sharp reversal from recent polling showing Gingrich dominating this category despite numerous polls showing him running at a relative disadvantage against President Obama.
