NBC poll: Mitt Romney, Ron Paul neck-and-neck in Iowa; Newt Gingrich in 5th

[dbt]

Source: MSNBC (Mark Murray)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are running neck-and-neck in Iowa, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is surging and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich collapsing just four days before the state's Jan. 3 caucuses, according to a new NBC News-Marist poll.

Romney drew the support of 23 percent of likely caucus-goers in Iowa – identified based on interest, chance of voting and past participation – ahead of Paul, at 21 percent.

They are followed by Santorum at 15 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 14 percent, Gingrich at 13 percent and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann at 6 percent.

The poll numbers, which are similar to those published in a recent CNN/Time survey, represent a reversal of fortune for Gingrich, as well as an improvement for Santorum and (to a lesser extent) Perry. The NBC-Marist poll conducted in late November had Gingrich in the lead among likely caucus-goers at 28 percent, Romney and Paul tied at 19 percent, Perry at 10 percent, Bachmann at 7 percent and Santorum at 6 percent.


Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9822616-nbc-poll-mitt-romney-ron-paul-neck-and-neck-in-iowa-newt-gingrich-in-5th

[Thor_MN]

1. Bachmann is a total fail, but I would expect Santorum to be bringing up the rear.

[No Elephants]

8. LOL!

Google it!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enthusiast]

3. Just goes to show you that

even in one of the most "conservative" states even Republican voters are interested in reining in the military industrial complex. Otherwise Paul wouldn't be tied for the lead.

Let's bring these troops home and end this military insanity.

[No Elephants]

9. If you assume that politics bears a relation to the will of the people.

I no longer assume that.

Paul seems to have a lot of money behind him.

As far as the troops, I am all for bringing them home--and then NOT sending them to Iran.

[Me.]

4. I So Wish Paul Or Newt Would Be The Nom

Would serve that scum Romney right and give us a loon to defeat, a two-fer

[bowens43]

5. Me too

unfortunately it will be Romney and he has a good chance of beating Obama

He's the only one of the bunch who doesn't come across as a total nut job. Independents will be easily swayed.

[still_one]

6. Romney may be the nominee, but there is no evidence he stands a good chance of beating Obama. What

is he going to run on? His record as govenor of Mass, which he runs away from?

As someone once said, romney is a mood ring. The truth is people do not know what romney stands for. He has changed his position so frequently.

The results of the election are far from clear cut

[Me.]

7. But There Is A Reason So Many People Don't Like Romney

And I think it will become more evident as time goes on and the primaries become more vicious, which they will

[No Elephants]

10. Huntsman comes across as less of a nut job.

Face it. The winner will be the choice of the Carlyle Group, or the Bohemian Grove, or whatever semi-occult group it is that decides this stuff.

That has looked like Romney for a while, but maybe they'll surprise us, to give a false appearance that voters actually have something to do with these things.

[arikara]

11. He may not come across as a a nut job

but he is downright creepy. Besides, the repubs want somebody they would like to have a beer with and Romney sure isn't that guy.