Poll: Cain's fall fuels Gingrich's double-digit lead

WASHINGTON – Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has taken a double-digit lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination in a new nationwide Gallup Poll.

Gingrich's 37% standing is higher support than any Republican candidate has scored to date in Gallup surveys this year that have been led, at various times, by five other contenders.

Romney is at 22%.

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The findings illustrate how Gingrich has benefited from the precipitous fall by former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, who on Saturday suspended his campaign in the wake of allegations of personal misbehavior.

Compared with a Gallup Poll taken in early November, when Cain was at the top of the field, the former business executive's support has dropped by 22 percentage points. Gingrich's support has risen by 24 percentage points.

And Romney?

His support was at 22% then and 22% now — a signal of his strength and weakness: His support has remained steady while other candidates have soared and crashed. But he has yet to significantly expand his appeal.

The other contenders are in single digits, including Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 8%, Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 7%, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann at 6%, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum at 3% and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman at 1%. Read More