Poll: Gingrich holds strong lead in Georgia; Santorum and Romney tied in Ohio

Newt Gingrich heads into Super Tuesday with a strong lead in Georgia, his home state, according to a new poll released Monday.

A new poll from CNN/ORC International shows Gingrich leading in Georgia with 47 percent support among likely GOP voters, compared to Mitt Romney's 24 percent, Rick Santorum's 15 percent and Ron Paul's 9 percent.

Gingrich has held a comfortable lead in polls of the state over the past week, in the run-up to Tuesday's primary. The former House speaker, who has faltered in national polls since January following his lone win in South Carolina's primary, has pinned future hopes for his campaign on winning in southern states.

The CNN/ORC poll shows a dead heat between a Republican candidate and President Obama in a general-election match-up in Georgia, with both taking 48 percent support.

In the same poll, a survey of likely Republican primary voters in Ohio confirms other polls released on Monday, showing a tie between Romney and Santorum. Both candidates take 32 percent, with Gingrich trailing at 14 percent and Paul at 11 percent.

In Ohio, Obama edges out the Republican candidate in a hypothetical match-up among registered voters, with Obama taking 49 percent and the unnamed Republican 45 percent.

Oklahoma, Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia will also vote on Tuesday. 

Romney heads into Tuesday's votes after a string of five wins, but needs a strong performance to help solidify his status as the presumptive nominee.

---