Gallup poll: Romney breaking out nationally

Mitt Romney has surpassed Newt Gingrich nationally in the race for the Republican presidential nomination for the first time since early November, a new Gallup survey finds. 

The former Massachusetts governor now holds a 4-point lead over the former House Speaker, according to Gallup’s daily tracking poll.

Romney leads the GOP field at 27 percent, followed by a steadily declining Gingrich at 23 percent.

It’s the first time Romney has broken through the 25 percent threshold since Gallup began tracking the candidates’ daily rolling averages. 

Romney had remained in the mid-20 percent range throughout December but has been gaining on Gingrich, whose numbers quickly declined after peaking at 37 percent earlier this month.

Gingrich has also seen his support collapse in Iowa, where, according to a Public Policy Poll released Wednesday, he has fallen from first place at 27 percent into the second tier of candidates — just ahead of Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) at 13 percent.

Rounding out the field in Gallup's national poll are Rep. Ron Paul at 11 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 8 percent, Michele Bachmann at 5 percent, Rick Santorum at 4 percent and Jon Huntsman at 2 percent.

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