Gingrich leads in Iowa poll

[December 05, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Newt Gingrich has taken the lead in a poll of Republican voters in Iowa, followed by Ron Paul and Mitt Romney.

Former House Speaker Gingrich received support from 25 percent of likely voters in the leadoff Iowa caucus, while Texas congressman Paul had 18 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 16 percent in the Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll released Saturday.

Gingrich's support stood at just 7 percent in the most recent Iowa Poll, conducted in late October. Businessman Herman Cain, who suspended his campaign today amid claims of sexual misconduct, was at 8 percent in the latest poll, down from 23 percent in October. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann was also at 8 percent.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were at 6 percent each, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman was at 2 percent.

The new poll of 401 likely Republican caucusgoers has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

[Associated Press]

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