Iowa shows support (if not enthusiasm) for Romney

[Bull Moose Base]

What is this article? It's a fluff piece. It quotes maybe five people for anecdotal evidence of the mood in Iowa.

Reporters are bored with the Cain bubble and "serious" speculation about new entrants is over. They don't know what else to talk about.

(Of course, they could discuss Romney's recent foreign policy speech, or better yet, they could investigate what members of Iowa's political establishment are saying. And some are. But articles like this, which do crop up at slow points in the campaign, are unfortunately common, and aren't really worthy of much discussion or attention.)

Or they could conduct a poll!

PPP is polling Iowa or now (or just finished).  Should have results in a couple days.  PPP's last batch of polls were all in Romney-skeptical states (NE, NC, WV) and all showed Cain and Gingrich 1-2 with Perry taking a big hit.  Romney has generally looked stronger in Iowa, probably because he's campaigned there this cycle and last.   I think it's a misperception that he's skipping it.  He's probably just trying to lower expectations and I bet will find a win there too irresistible to not attempt.  But have we seen a statewide poll besides ARG since Romney skipped Ames?  As for what PPP shows, I'll predict an unpredictable race: a cluster of people in double digits, no candidates dominant.

[Bull Moose Base]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Romney, Perry, Cain, Bachmann, Paul, or Gingrich reaching the double digits. Even for Santorum it's not implausible.

EDIT: From PPP's Twitter:  “Only 3 candidates in double digits on our IA poll- Cain, Romney, Paul. Romney has real chance there, would be crazy not to try”

Modern Bourbon, well done (unless you looked in the back of the book).  The Perry collapse is looking quite spectacular.  Are he, Bachmann and Santorum about to all start attacking Cain???

[Bull Moose Base]

Hold on, we don't know the order yet or the difference. For all we know, Paul and Romney are ahead of Cain.

They're not listed alphabetically, so it's probably safe to assume that PPP has the candidates listed in order.

Trying to carry on this convo in two different threads!  Nice detective work though.  Cain must be leading.  (And he'd tweet the news if Paul was in first or even second I have to think.  He didn't).  I can't tell if this nomination contest is one of the most boring or exciting ever.  Or I should say, it's fun but I'm afraid all the action will be over once the voting starts.