Newt Gingrich leads Mitt Romney in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania - Alexander Burns

Quinnipiac University has released a new set of primary numbers indicating that the Gingrich surge is a truly national phenomenon: He now leads Romney 35 percent to 22 percent in Florida, 36 percent to 18 percent in Ohio and 31 percent to 17 percent in Pennsylvania. In all three states, a head-to-head contest between Gingrich and Romney – and no other candidates – puts the former House speaker above 50 percent of the vote.

The poll also includes some general election data that may help Gingrich push back on the widely held perception that he would be much weaker than Romney against President Obama:

Florida: Romney with 45 percent to Obama’s 42 percent;
              Obama at 46 percent to Gingrich’s 44 percent.
Ohio: Romney at 43 percent to Obama’s 42 percent;
              Gingrich with 43 percent to Obama’s 42 percent.
Pennsylvania: Obama edging Romney 46 – 43 percent;
              Obama tops Gingrich 48 – 40 percent.

Romney still fares better as a general election candidate, and plenty of strategists in both parties believe that Gingrich’s negatives could very well be disqualifying next November once voters focus on them. At the moment, though, he has some helpful data to argue otherwise.

Continue Reading

via politico.com