Rick Santorum surges in Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, Santorum passes Paul at 21 percent, Romney 24 percent, December 31, 2011
From the Des Moines Register December 31, 2011.
“Romney leads Paul in new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll; Santorum surges”
“Mitt Romney tops the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll in the closing days before the Iowa caucuses, but Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are poised within striking distance.
The poll, conducted Tuesday through Friday, shows support at 24 percent for Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts; 22 percent for Paul, a Texas congressman; and 15 percent for the surging Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.
But the four-day results don’t reflect just how quickly momentum is shifting in a race that has remained highly fluid for months. If the final two days of polling are considered separately, Santorum rises to second place, with 21 percent, pushing Paul to third, at 18 percent. Romney remains the same, at 24 percent.
“Momentum’s name is Rick Santorum,” said the Register’s pollster, J. Ann Selzer.
Another sign of the race’s volatility: 41 percent of likely caucusgoers say they could still be persuaded to change their minds.
Selzer & Co. of Des Moines conducted the poll of 602 likely Republican caucusgoers, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. In the final two days of polling, 302 likely caucusgoers were interviewed, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points.
Rounding out the field, in results from the full, four-day poll: former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 12 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 11 percent, and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, 7 percent.
The first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, which take place Tuesday evening, kick off voting in the presidential nominating process. The Iowa Poll, a Register exclusive since 1943, is a much-watched indicator of how candidates are faring in the leadoff caucus state.
The first three Iowa Polls of the 2012 caucus cycle, conducted in June, October and November, featured a different leader each time: first Romney, then retired business executive Herman Cain, then Gingrich. Other candidates took turns in the top tier, too. Bachmann was in second place to Romney in the June poll and won the Iowa straw poll in August. But her support plummeted this fall.
Gingrich surged to the lead with 25 percent support in the late November poll, but slid to 12 percent in the new poll.
Now, it’s Santorum’s time to rocket to the top tier. He has campaigned in Iowa more than any other candidate, stumping the state more than 100 days and conducting more than 300 events since the last presidential election. Next closest is Bachmann, at 80 days.
But until recent weeks, Santorum has struggled to escape single digits in state and national polls. He has campaigned as both a strong fiscal and social conservative, but social conservative voters had remained undecided or split among several candidates.”
Read more:
Citizen WElls 
Very cool! Santorum could win. Even if he comes in second, it would be amazing.
Dear CW,
I am surprised that you have chosen to endorse a candidate that has chosen to ignore the most important issue facing America today: Do “We the People” have a Constitutional Republic or don’t we? If we do, then it is of the utmost importance that our representatives (including Santorum) uphold the law of the land and ensure that our elections are free and honest. If we don’t have a Constitution, it doesn’t matter who is President or if there are sham elections or which party holds power – Freedom is lost. There are many questions about the person occupying the White House that have gone unanswered and not a single representative (that I know of) has raised his/her voice to demand an investigation. In my opinion any person who has raised his/her voice (on this site or others) with regard to the usurpation of the Oval Office should be endorsing Laurie Roth who is at least giving a voice to those who have been maligned by the Press and the Big Party so called “Candidates”. She cannot win, but she can (if we speak with one voice) show that there is much discontent in the country regarding the identity of the man who is called “President” by many and who acceded to the office under questionable means. Those who support the Constitution and our freedom have this ONE chance to let their voices be heard. Stand up and speak for the Constitution – Endorse Laurie Roth.
ELmo
ELmo, I am waiting for Joe Arpaio’s posse to report their findings, concerning the occupant in our White House. If they can show that Obama is an illegal alien, not born in Hawaii, and not eligible to hold office, I think it will be curtains for the Chicago fraud, in spite of what the main stream media may say about the posse’s findings.
Many of the candidates know it would be suicide to call out Obama’s lack of eligibility right now. The smart move would be to let Arpaio’s posse do the dirty work for them. If a republican candidate does get elected, they can begin to reverse the damage the enemy has done, but only if Obama is defeated. With a corrupt MSM behind Obama the R candidates need to outsmart the enemy media, and get elected by any means possible, even if it means ignoring Article 2 section 1 clause 5 for the time being.
Let’s hope Arpaio’s posse has clear, and persuasive, evidence, so there is no wiggle room, for those in government, and the media, that would lie, to steal the Presidency of the U.S.A. for a second illegal term.
bob strauss | January 1, 2012 at 12:51 am |
“Let’s hope Arpaio’s posse has clear, and persuasive, evidence, so there is no wiggle room, for those in government, and the media, that would lie, to steal the Presidency of the U.S.A. for a second illegal term.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bob, I agree.
Did anyone see the recently released poll whereby 65% of American voters believe Obama will in fact win re-election? This is the discouragement of voters knowing none of those currently selected have a chance to beat Obama. So much for the Karl Rove theory of Policy Only!
As Bob mentioned above and I will add, if the Congress does raise the Obama issues after the release of Arpaio’s report, then count on 4 more years of Obama.
Happy New Year to all.
William, I don’t agree that you are saying the same thing as Bob. If Congress does the right thing and tells the truth about Obama, Obama will be Voted out. People will no longer be able to have an excuse TO vote for Obama.
Purplewan
Thanks for pointing that out. I do in fact agree with Bob.
However, my statement should have read…”if the Congress does ” NOT” raise the Obama issues after the release of Arpaio’s report, then count on 4 more years of Obama.
Sorry about that.
Bob,
Even if the Rs get elected, they will do nothing to correct the damage that has been done to our Constitution by the seating of this imposter. If they were going to ‘Stand Up’ they would have done it already or would be in the process of doing it now. We cannot let this opportunity go by to support the one candidate that is willing to confront this issue (I don’t know of another). Laurie Roth is at least willing to take the abuse in order to give voice to this issue. The least we can do is support the candidate that voices the MOST IMPORTANT issue on America’s plate today. If the opportunity is missed, it won’t come again.
ELmo
ELmo,
I went to Roth’s Presidential campaign site and looked at her positions on the issues, and can comment that I agree with most of her stances, but I don’t know how you get us completely out of debt in 4-5 years with a 2% consumption tax.
But I saw NOTHING on the eligibility issue.
IF as you state this is the most important issue, why isn’t it addressed on her website?
Just asking, not criticizing.
I understand and don’t take any offense to a valid question. I don’t know the answer. Laurie Roth opened her “campaign” with a statement saying that she challenged Obama’s eligibility. It has also been a long standing issue on her radio show. I don’t know why it wouldn’t be on her website but I will ask questions and try to find out.
ELmo