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Newt’s lead evaporates

WASHINGTON — That didn’t take long.

Newt Gingrich, who had soared to the top of the GOP field in recent weeks, has seen his lead shrivel or disappear in several key polls yesterday, as a fierce, multi-pronged assault on the former House speaker’s ideology, temperament and big-bucks consulting gigs took a toll.

Daily national tracking polls by Gallup show a collapse for Gingrich over the last 12 days. Almost two weeks ago, Gingrich had a 15-point lead over Mitt Romney. As of yesterday, that lead shrank to just 2 points.

Gingrich and Romney are now virtually tied, at 26 percent and 24 percent respectively, with Rep. Ron Paul following in third place, with 11 percent in the national survey.

In Iowa, which holds its caucuses Jan. 3, a new Public Policy Polling survey has Paul seizing the top spot, with 23 percent, and Romney climbing to 20 percent — while Gingrich falls to just 14 percent. Just two weeks ago, Gingrich was at 27 percent in the same poll.

“Newt Gingrich’s Iowa support was extremely soft and has collapsed in only two weeks,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

Paul’s efforts to build a strong organization and contact voters appear to be paying dividends. Twenty-two percent of Iowans surveyed say he has run the best campaign in the state, compared with only 8 percent for Gingrich.

Gingrich’s lead over Romney also evaporated in a national CNN poll, with the two now tied at 28 percent.

The Gingrich camp, recognizing the warning signs, booked more than $200,000 in TV time in Iowa this week. But he is still being outspent manyfold by other candidates and the “Super PACs” supporting them.

A Paul ad savaged Gingrich for “serial hypocrisy,” and Romney slammed him as “zany” and an “unreliable leader.”

Gingrich, campaigning in Iowa yesterday, tried to shame his opponents for their relentless attacks. “It’s candidly very disappointing to see some of my friends who are running who have so much negative junk,” he said.

Poll positions

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s political fortunes have begun to turn, with a new poll showing that his once-formidable lead among Iowa Republicans has slipped away.

Ron Paul: 23%

Mitt Romney: 20%

Gingrich: 14%

Two weeks ago:

Gingrich: 27%

Paul: 18%

Romney: 16%