Gingrich Leads the GOP Field

A new CNN/Opinion Research poll confirms what many other recent national polls have found: Newt Gingrich is the new GOP presidential frontrunner.

Gingrich leads with 24%, followed by Mitt Romney at 20%, Herman Cain at 17%, Rick Perry at 11%, Ron Paul at 9%, Michele Bachmann at 5%, Rick Santorum at 4% and Jon Hunstman at 3%.

Said pollster Keating Holland: “But don’t think that Gingrich has risen in the polls simply because other alternatives to Romney have fizzled. The number of Republicans who would be pleased or enthusiastic if he won the party’s nomination has grown from 51% in May to 70% now — not the kind of numbers you would expect if voters were ‘settling’ for Gingrich.”