Newt Gingrich leading in key Iowa poll

Newt Gingrich has taken the lead in a poll of Republican voters in Iowa, followed by Ron Paul and Mitt Romney.

Former House Speaker Mr Gingrich received support from 25% of likely voters in the lead-off Iowa caucus, while Texas congressman Mr Paul had 18% and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney had 16% in the Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll.

Mr Gingrich’s support stood at just 7% in the most recent Iowa Poll, conducted in late October.

Businessman Herman Cain, who suspended his campaign today amid claims of sexual misconduct, was at 8% in the latest poll, down from 23% in October.

The new poll of 401 likely Republican caucusgoers has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.