Pollster Scott Rasmussen has just released a new poll showing Mitt Romney leading the Republican presidential race in Iowa. Romney is at 25 percent in the new survey, followed by Ron Paul, with 20 percent, and Newt Gingrich, with 17 percent.
The rest of the GOP field is far behind, with Rick Santorum and Rick Perry at ten percent, Michele Bachmann at six percent, and Jon Huntsman at four percent.
Results for both Romney and Paul are the highest they have yet reached in Rasmussen polling. But Scott Rasmussen notes a significant difference between supporters of Romney and supporters of Paul. “Romney leads, with Gingrich in second, among those who consider themselves Republicans,” Rasmussen writes. “Paul has a wide lead among non-Republicans who are likely to participate in the caucus.”
Poll respondents also say they believe Romney has the best chance of defeating President Obama next year. “Romney is now seen as the strongest candidate against President Obama by 35% of Iowa caucus-goers,” Rasmussen writes. “Paul is seen as the weakest candidate by 26%, Bachmann by 21%.”
