InsiderAdvantage: Romney 40%, Gingrich 32% en FL

Savannah Morning News:

A Florida Times-Union/Insider Advantage survey out Wednesday has Mitt Romney with a 40-32 lead on Newt Gingrich, a significant swing in less than two days. No other candidate polled in double-digits.

Riding a wave of momentum after winning South Carolina’s Jan. 21 primary by double-digits, Gingrich took a 34-26 lead over Romney into Monday night’s Tampa presidential debate, according to Insider Advantage’s last Florida survey.

The swing does not come as a shock to Matt Towery, Insider Advantage’s founder.

“Gingrich does not have the television presence, and he had a tepid debate performance,” said Towery, a Times-Union columnist who is a former Gingrich staffer.

Towery said that because debates have played such an influential role in the nominating process, tonight’s Jacksonville debate at the University of North Florida could serve as kingmaker in Florida.

“We expected Gingrich to be this great debater, and he just wasn’t [in Tampa],” Towery said. “Jacksonville will be his make or break.”

Gingrich may also be helped by the $5 million cash infusion casino moguel Sheldon Adelson gave a super PAC supporting his campaign.

“It will get him on television, which will help,” Towery said.

(...) The Insider Advantage numbers had Romney up in almost every demographic, including a 66-34 lead with Hispanic voters, one of Florida’s most important blocs.

The only good news for Gingrich is that 9 percent said they were still undecided.

“These numbers are not damming for Gingrich, but Romney has a definite advantage,” Towery said.

The survey was conducted Wednesday and included 530 likely Republican voters. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Romney consiguió cambiar la dinámica en el último debate. El tema que ha dominado la campaña a partir del debate ha sido Freddie Mac.