Those figures in particular are difficult for Romney

There’s also clear, committed strength for Ron Paul to make him a factor and delegate-winner in the state.

And though there are new supporters up for moncler jackets grabs with Herman Cain out of the race, there’s evidence that the candidates who’ve pinned their hopes on strong showings in Iowa — Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum — are losing traction completely.

The NBC News/Marist College poll released Sunday showed Gingrich leading the GOP presidential field with 26 percent support of likely Iowa caucus goers, eight points ahead of Mitt Romney, at 18 percent. These results tracked with a Des Moines Register poll from Saturday, with Gingrich at 25 and Romney at 16 percent.

Worse news for Romney: on the economy, his signature issue, the Register poll found that Iowans are far from flocking to him. Gingrich was the choice of 22 percent asked which candidate “best able to turn the economy around.” Only 20 percent said Romney.

The Register poll found Paul is seen by a plurality of those surveyed to be the most fiscally responsible (32 percent), the most principled (24 percent) but also the most negative (19 percent).

A whopping 58 percent in the NBC/Marist poll said Gingrich is both the most knowledgeable about the world and the most experienced, striking figures for a leading candidate in a time when the anti-Washington, anti-government forces are running deep in Republican politics.

Those figures in particular are difficult for Romney, said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

“Gingrich really gets to the core of the Romney rationale, which has been experience and electability,” he said. “Those are the numbers that have changed the most for Romney since October.”

After the rise and fall of less articulate temporary front-runners, Iowans are responding in part to Gingich’s ability to Cheap moncler jackets outlet, moncler boots 2011 new arrivals for sale, buy cheap moncler vest for men and women, free shipping, welcome to best moncler sale online shop, up to 70% off. deliver a message beyond talking points, explained Sam Clovis, a Sioux City radio talk show host.

“He speaks in sentences and paragraphs and people are willing to listen to that right now,” he said. “He makes sense. And people who would not have trusted him before are grudgingly start to extend that trust to him. That is extremely difficult to do with the typical voter in Iowa.”

The Iowa Poll also showed 15 percent of likely caucus goers said Romney is the candidate they like the least, tied for the highest percentage with Michele Bachmann. Only 6 percent said they like Gingrich the least.

And illustrating the ceiling the former Massachusetts governor appears to have hit, the NBC/Marist poll shows how many Republicans have written him off. Almost a quarter – 24 percent – of likely caucus goers said Romney would be unacceptable as the Republican nominee and 28 percent said he would be acceptable only with reservations.

Sixteen percent said that Gingrich would be unacceptable, with 27 percent having reservations.

But there’s room for those reservations to grow. The NBC/Marist poll asked Iowans it would be acceptable for the GOP nominee to have earned “earned millions of dollars advising Freddie Mac,” as Gingrich did. It found 56 percent of Iowa Republicans surveyed said no. Another 47 percent said it would not be acceptable for the nominee to support “limited amnesty for some illegal immigrants,” as Gingrich’s rivals have portrayed his position.

And if Gingrich collapses, like others did before him, the NBC/Marist poll showed Romney’s the one who stands to benefit. He’s the second choice for more would-be Gingrich voters in Iowa and New Hampshire than any other candidate.

Which, taken together with the fluidity of the race to date, may be why the Romney campaign says it’s unfazed by the latest numbers. Asked how the campaign will react to the polls that show Romney falling into second place behind Gingrich, a campaign adviser e-mailed: “Patience. Discipline. Men - moncler jackets Organization. Endorsements. Message. Focus. Life experience.”

But what’s clear is that the people backing Paul, who’s in a statistical tie with Romney for second place in both polls, aren’t going anywhere.