Newt Gingrich Leads in Iowa while Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann Collapse

An American Research Group poll released on Wednesday, of likely votes in the Iowa Republican caucus, found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has moved to the front of the pack of Republican presidential candidates in the Hawkeye State -- while businessman Herman Cain and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., have collapsed there.

Gingrich takes 27 percent in the poll, followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 20 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, places third with 16 percent.

The rest of the pack trails in single digits. While Bachmann won the Iowa Republican straw poll back in August, she is now a in a three-way tie with Cain and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania for fourth place with 6 percent each. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas takes seventh with 5 percent, followed by former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah who garners 3 percent. Two former governors -- Gary Johnson of New Mexico and Buddy Roemer of Louisiana -- take less than 1 percent.

The poll of 600 likely Iowa Republican caucus voters was taken Nov. 17-23 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.