IOWA: Perry takes lead

A new We Ask America poll of Iowa Republicans shows Rick Perry jumping ahead in the state, with Sarah Palin slipping to 5th.

1. Rick Perry 29%

2. Michele Bachmann 17%

3. Mitt Romney 15%

4. Ron Paul 8%

5. Sarah Palin 7%

6. Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich 5%

8. Rick Santorum 4%

9. Jon Huntsman 1%

Notes:

a. Perry cruises by Bachmann. She's still the nominal front-runner in the state, but this poll (taken on August 16th, three days after Ames) indicates he could be the true leader. Still, more polling is needed to put him atop the Hawkeye perch.

b. Palin slips. She does worse here than across the country, and Iowa is supposed to be well-suited to her.

Theory? Her Hamlet-act is wearing thin with state Republicans, who appreciate the genuine electoral effort from the other candidates.

Whom voters DON'T want:

1. Sarah Palin 25%

2. Newt Gingrich 16%

3. Jon Huntsman 14%

4. Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann 12%

6. Herman Cain 8%

7. Mitt Romney 7%

8. Rick Perry 3%

Notes:

a. Palin at wrong end. Even though she's fifth in preference; she does even worse here. Again, her perpetual flirt might be causing the more finely-tuned voters to grow weary.

b. Romney, Perry in good shape. You'd think Romney would have a storehouse of Iowa voters who, above all else, don't want him. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Romney's support is often called soft, but here, opposition to him is also soft.

As for Perry, his two numbers (in both polls) are ethanol (aka gold).

c. Huntsman's struggles. Only 1% support him. Name ID issue? Not totally. More Iowans don't want him than Paul, Bachmann, Cain, Romney, and Perry.

[Hat tip: Tom Bevan at RCP]