A surge in support for Republican White House hopeful Newt Gingrich has made him the new front-runner in Iowa, which holds the first of next year's US presidential nominating contests, according to a closely watched opinion poll.
Former house speaker Mr Gingrich received support from 25 per cent of likely voters in the lead-off Iowa caucus, while Texas congressman Mr Paul had 18 per cent and former
Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney had 16 per cent in the Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll.
Mr Gingrich’s support stood at just 7 per cent 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 per cent in the latest poll, down from 23 per cent in October.
The new poll of 401 likely Republican caucusgoers has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
The Iowa caucuses, set for January 3rd, kick off the state-by-state contests to choose the party presidential nominee who will challenge president Barack Obama in the November 2012 election.
Mr Cain led the field in the poll conducted in October. His departure, which came after the latest poll was conducted, shapes the wide-open Republican race more clearly into a match-up between Romney and Gingrich.
Reuters/Ipsos poll data released this week showed Mr Gingrich and Mr Romney would benefit most if Mr Cain quit.
Mr Gingrich just this week opened a campaign office in Iowa and has rehired staff, including two campaign advisers who had resigned in June.
"We've got some Newt-mentum going for us here," said Mr Gingrich campaign spokesman RC Hammond.
"We're not hiding the fact that our ground game is a little behind the ball. But what we lack in time we'll make up with intensity and intelligence," said Mr Hammond.
Wires