Newt Gingrich Doubles Up Mitt Romney to Lead National Poll

A national poll released on Thursday found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a commanding lead in the fluid race to see which Republican candidate will emerge to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012.

A Rasmussen Reports poll of likely Republican primary voters has Gingrich way out in front with 38 percent followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in second with 17 percent.

The rest of the pack trail in single digits. Businessman Herman Cain and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul take third with 8 percent each. Three candidates -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania -- are tied together with 4 percent followed by former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah with 3 percent.

The poll of 1,000 likely Republican primary voters was taken on Nov. 30 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.