Cain opens up double-digit lead in Iowa, Perry fifth in latest poll

Herman Cain may be pulling away from the rest of the field in Iowa, according to a University of Iowa poll released today.

The insurgent GOP candidate earned the support of 37 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers, outpacing Mitt Romney, with whom 27 percent of voters sided, and Ron Paul, who was backed by 12 percent of those surveyed.

Rick Perry, who had been leading national Republican polls as recently as a month ago, earned less than 6 percent of Republican support, placing him fifth in the Hawkeye poll, after Newt Gingrich.

Cain's rise has been on the back of Tea Party activists and conservatives who are less than enamored with Romney.

Cain was by far the choice of those who identified themselves as strong Republican partisans, with 43 percent of that vote. Romney garnered 25 percent of strong Republicans, and no other candidate broke double digits.

The Republican frontrunners were more equally matched among Republican caucusgoers who did not identify strongly with the GOP, with Romney taking 31 percent of those polled and Cain taking 30 percent.

Those surveyed also said they were satisfied with the Republican field as currently constituted. Only 14 percent of respondents said they were not satisfied with their Republican options.

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