Shocker poll from Rasmussen about the Florida primary race

The last time I heard a report about the race in Florida,  Romney had a comfortable lead of 18 point.

The latest RasmussenReports telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters, taken Sunday evening, finds Gingrich earning 41% of the vote with Romney in second at 32%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum runs third with 11%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul attracts support from eight percent (8%). Nine percent (9%) remain undecided

The 9 point lead is not "the rest of the story."  Using Rasmussen's numbers,  the swing toward Gingrich is a startling 31 points (22 + 9).

Gingrich is not only the front runner,  his lead is trending upward.  He is separating himself from the pack.

Gingrich has succeeded in convincing folks that he is a "Reagan Conservative"  when the facts of the matter tell us the very opposite. 

In times past,  he helped create the Department of Education,  voted to override a Reagan veto of the Fairness Doctrine (1987), supports a federal law mandating that all Americans buy health insurance or post a $150 (a current position), voted to authorize population controls (1987), supported an alliance with Speaker Pelosi on Cap and Trade legislation (2008, 2009),  was the first Speaker of the House to have ever been censored by the House and continues to resist the release of some of the documents surrounding that episode,  was paid 1.2 million  working as a lobbyist for Freddie Mac and continues to hide his contract that that GSE,  as well as evidence of his scope of work.  

Two weeks ago,  I endorsed the Gingrich campaign,  but have changed my position,  because of the longer version of the above.  I don't care about the marriage scandal(s),  but the larger American electorate might.  Gingrich's likability numbers are as bad as they get with a 25/53 ratio to the negative.  In fairness,  on this matter,  I hasten to point out that Gingrich took the Independent vote by a substantial margin and scored a close second with Moderates,  in the South Carolina election primary.  


Caveat:  As bad as all this sounds,  Newt's approach to governance represents an end to the Obama styled One Worldism of the current democrat leadership. Newt has pledged that he has abandoned much of the above and I think that the TEA party push will keep matters on track.  In other words,  I would support him if nominated.