Huckabee surges past Romney in Iowa, gains elsewhere

Just after Jeff Fuller of Iowans for Romney commented on a previous post that Mike Huckabee lacks a believable path to the nomination, and that "a vote for Huckabee is a vote for Giuliani," new polls have rocked the Republican race to its core.

First, Romney- who has outspent Huckabee, for one, by a margin of ten-to-one here in Iowa and has had TV ads showing regularly all over the state for many, many months- has lost his once humongous lead among likely caucus goers.

Mike Huckabee now leads in Iowa, according to the latest Rasmussen Poll, with 28%, to Romney's 25%. Giuliani has 12%, and Thompson 11%. And the momentum is all Huckabee's.

Huckabee recently broadcast his first ad here in Iowa. This is a groundswell, people-a response to the candidate, not to the amount of money he's spend. In fact, Romney's spending doesn't look as if it's going to be able to buy Iowa after all.

Huckabee has gained twelve points here in Iowa in the last month. Romney has lost four points, and Giuliani and Thompson are each down three. John McCain has lost two points, but his four percent now places him behind even Ron Paul, who has gained one, moving up to five percent.

If- as it now appears that he very well might- Huckabee wins the Iowa Caucuses, it will be impossible not to regard him as a first-tier candidate. The victory will have repercussions all over the nation for his prospects in other states.

Secondly, while Rudy Giuliani continues to lead big time in Florida, Huckabee is now second.

Thirdly, in South Carolina, Romney still leads- but narrowly, with 17% to Thompson's 15%. Huckabee, though, is gaining, and is third- and rising- with 13%. Then comes John McCain, with 11%.

Rudy Giuliani- whom I believe will be the Howard Dean of 2008- is, on the whole, losing ground. Last month, he led in South Carolina, with 18%; this month, he's fifth, with only nine.

Nationally, Huckabee ranks third, two points behind Romney- and all of this before the results in Iowa.

No clear path, indeed.

HT: Hot Air

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