No Republican candidate is running away with the contest in Iowa, according to a new surveyconducted by the PPP polling firm. The survey shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum are all within two percent of each other in the Hawkeye state.
Paul leads with 20 percent of the vote to 19 percent for Romney and 18 percent for Santorum. However, while Paul and Romney have largely retained the support they have had in recent weeks, Santorum has doubled his and the momentum gives him a chance to carry the first state and build momentum leading into New Hampshire and South Carolina — both states where Romney currently leads.
“The momentum in the race is completely on Santorum’s side. He’s moved up 8 points since a PPP poll earlier in the week, while no one else has seen more than a one point gain in their support,” PPP notes. “Among voters who say they decided who to vote for in the last seven days he leads Romney 29-17 with Paul and Gingrich both at 13.”
(link to full article)