Ron Paul Retains Iowa Edge

Iowa “looks like a 2 person race between Paul and Romney,” says Public Policy Polling in its analysis of the latest poll in the state showing Ron Paul with 24 percent of the vote, Mitt Romney with 20 percent, and Newt Gingrich way back in third with 13 percent. Paul is drawing much of his support from independents and young voters, while Romney has a slight edge with Republicans and a much larger one with seniors. Politico notes, meanwhile, that Romney has moved key staffers from Boston to fill out his staff in Iowa—a “clear sign he’s playing to win.” One final interesting note from the PPP poll: Tea Party voters’ preferred candidate is actually Michele Bachmann, a sign of the movement’s diminished power.