GOP Primary Race Update

I briefly referenced polls and polling this morning in the Quick Hits post....but throughout the day came new poll announcements that reflect some significant changes in the GOP Presidential Primary race.

Public Policy Polling (PPP) released their latest poll that shows Newt Gingrich has taken the lead with 28% support.  Following is Herman Cain at 25% and Mitt Romney at 18%.  Rick Perry dropped to 6% after his gaffe in the Michigan debate that took place on the 9th. 

CNN's poll also shows a surge in support for the former Speaker of the House.  Mitt Romney leads in the CNN poll with 24%, Gingrich is at 22%, Herman Cain drops to 14%, and Rick Perry falls to 12%. 

The accusations against Herman Cain for sexual harassment have not disappeared.  After his denial of the accusations early last week and no new accusers stepping forward, it looked like this was dropping off the radar screen.  Gloria Allred today called a press conference to make sure that this did not drop off anyone's radar screen.  Sharon Bialek's boyfriend at the time of the alleged groping was present to assert that Bialek did tell him of the event after it had happened.  As Ace of Ace of Spades notes, he's just a hearsay witness - not a direct witness to the alleged harassment.  In vintage Allred fashion,  she reminds us that she will not disappear on this subject just yet...."If he hadn't denied it, we wouldn't be here today.  He wants to end this, he should just come clean.  We'll have to see what happens next."

The fact that Allred called this presser to refocus attention on the accusations against Cain wasn't his worst moment today.  That came during an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Hot Air has the video, and I agree with Allahpundit's assessment that Herman Cain's campaign is effectively finished.  During this interview, Cain draws a complete blank on discussing the military action against Libya - a blank that is far worse than the one Rick Perry had in the Michigan Debate while trying to name the third Executive Branch Department he would cut.  Compounding this major gaffe was the announcement that he supports collective bargaining for public sector union employees which is the inverse of what Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker fought for earlier this year. 

Michelle Bachmann, on the heels of her campaign's accusations of bias against CBS News, is noting that the media, not voters are the one's trying to pick the winners in the GOP primary race.