The first Gallup poll released in the New Year — covering the period from December 26 through January 2 — shows Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich practically tied with 24 and 23 percent support, respectively, among registered Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Ron Paul is all alone in third place, with 13 percent support. Meanwhile, Rick Perry (7 percent support), Rick Santorum (6 percent support), and Michele Bachmann (5 percent support), are well back, in a grouping from fourth to sixth place, while Jon Huntsman (2 percent support) is by himself in seventh. 

Gallup’s polling is a reminder that while tonight’s caucus results in Iowa — a state comprising just 1 percent of the U.S. population — will tell us something, that something should nevertheless be viewed through a national lens.