Poll: Ron Paul leads in Iowa

Ron Paul is leading in the Iowa polls among Republican caucus votes according to a recent survey released on Sunday, the Des Moines Register reported.

According to the Public Policy Polling survey, Paul, a Texas congressman, has 23 percent of the vote, trailed by candidate Mitt Romney, who has 20 percent. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is falling behind with just 14 percent, according to the Register.

“Ron Paul is a real wild card,” said Dave Roederer who managed the Iowa efforts of President George W. Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Washington Post reported.

Read more at GlobalPost: Ron Paul and Donald Trump feud (VIDEO)

The survey polled 597 likely voters in Iowa from Friday to Sunday and was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. It was conduced through automated telephone interviews.

Voters cast their first ballots for the 2012 presidential candidates in Iowa on Jan. 3.

On Monday, Paul announced on his website that he has raised more than $4 million since Friday in his latest “money bomb,” USA Today reported. These funds are aimed at helping him in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, all locations of early caucuses or primaries.

Gingrich saw his lead in the same poll drop from 27 percent to 14 percent in just three weeks, Fox News reported. His favorability rating is now split at 46 percent for to 47 percent against, the worst of all candidates excluding Jon Huntsman.

Paul, who is likely to be in one of the top three Republican candidate spots, received 11,817 votes in 2008, which amounted to 10 percent of the overall vote, the Washington Post reported.

Read more at GlobalPost: Ron Paul ad attacks Newt Gingrich (VIDEO)