Another Iowa poll shows a healthy lead for Gingrich

In a CBS News poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers, Gingrich took 31 percent of the support compared to Mitt Romney’s 17 percent.

Ron Paul came in third at 16 percent, followed by Rick Perry at 11 percent, Michele Bachmann at nine percent, Rick Santorum at four percent, and Jon Huntsman at one percent.

The poll was conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, and former GOP candidate Herman Cain didn’t withdraw from the race until Dec. 3. According to CBS, “caucus-goers were asked their candidate preference in questions including and excluding the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO.”

Surprisingly, Bachmann benefitted the most from the Cain departure, moving up five points from four percent to nine percent.

Iowa caucus-goers also said Gingrich was the most electable candidate, putting a dent in what had been a consistent argument made by Romney supporters that their candidate is the most electable.

Thirty-one percent said Gingrich had the best chance to defeat Obama in 2012, compared to 29 percent who said Romney.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll released earlier on Tuesday, Gingrich led Romney 33 percent to 18 percent. He also bested Romney on the electability question by a margin of 29 percent to 24 percent.