Poll: Newt Surges To Top Of GOP Presidential Field

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has surged to the top of the GOP presidential field, according to figures from a Quinnipiac University poll. 

The poll shows Gingrich leading the cluttered field with 26 percent support from likely voters. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney comes in second with 22 percent support. 

“The question for Gingrich, as was the case for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain, is whether he is just the flavor of the month or whether he can sustain his meteoric rise,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Pizza mogul Herman Cain has seen a sharp drop in in recent weeks, spiraling from his position atop the field with 30 percent support down to just 14 percent. Cain’s drop could have resulted from the onslaught of sexual harassment allegations he was accused with or, perhaps, the recent fumble in answering a foreign policy question on Libya. Regardless, Cain’s figures still trump this of Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who both managed to rake in 6 percent support. 

The poll was conducted from Nov. 14-20 and included 2,552 registered voters.