Not only is Newt Gingrich now a top tier candidate in the Republican field, he also tops President Barack Obama in a head-to-head match up, according to the latest Rasmussen poll.
The poll, released Wednesday, found Gingrich edging out Obama 45 percent to 43 percent. Gingrich’s electability has risen along with his standing in the Republican field — just last week, Gingrich was six points behind the president — 46 percent to 40 percent, and two weeks ago, he was down by 12 points.
No other candidate in recent weeks has come close to matching up with Obama. Herman Cain is down by 10 points, Michele Bachmann by 12, Rick Perry and Ron Paul by 9, Jon Huntsman by 7 and Rick Santorum by 11. Even Romney, who has been within a few points of Obama for most recent polls, was down by six last week — 44 percent to 38 percent.
Gingrich does predictably well with Republicans, as Obama does with Democrats. Gingrich also takes more votes among those who identify as neither Republican nor Democrat, getting 50 percent of those votes to Obama’s 42 percent.
The former House speaker’s strongest support comes from older age groups. He beats Obama 51 percent to 38 percent among those over age 65, while Obama beats Gingrich by six points among 18 to 29-year-old voters.
Gingrich’s stock among Republicans has been rising in recent weeks — and he is now considered a top tier candidate. His positive intensity rating, according to Gallup, is at 20, the highest of any candidate at this point. He has also been racking up points in early states — he was endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Leader on Sunday, and a Public Policy Polling poll released Wednesday found him with a 30-point lead in Florida. Insider Advantage polls have found him leading in Iowa and South Carolina.
The Rasmussen poll is based on a nationwide automated survey of 1,000 likely voters on November 28 and November 29.