Iowa Poll: Gingrich Best Prepared for President

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is viewed as more prepared to be president than Mitt Romney, more attuned to voters' concerns and just as capable of defeating President Obama, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

The poll found that Gingrich is rated more favorably than any of the other six remaining candidates in the race among voters who say they are likely to attend the Republican caucuses in Iowa. Gingrich is also backed enthusiastically as his party’s nominee by more voters than any of his rivals, the poll found, and is leading in the head-to-head competition as the campaign in Iowa builds, according to the Times.

Gingrich holds considerable advantages over his rivals. The poll found that he is winning support from 31 percent of likely caucus goers, who rate him as the most empathetic, the strongest commander in chief and best prepared for the job by a 2-to-1 ratio. Romney had the support of 17 percent and Paul 16 percent.

Gingrich is drawing more than twice as much support as Romney among men and those who identify themselves as conservative, the Times reported. He receives three times more support than Romney from evangelical Christians. Romney receives more support from voters who call themselves moderate.