Ron Paul's Iowa surge: How will it affect the 2012 race?

The libertarian gadfly has a good shot at winning the first contest of the GOP primary season. That may be good news for Mitt Romney... and President Obama

Ron Paul looks strong heading into the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, but many political analysts remain convinced that the GOP would never nominate the libertarian.
(Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

With Newt Gingrich fading fast, GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul has jumped into the lead heading into the critical Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, according to a new survey from Public Policy Polling. The libertarian congressman from Texas had the support of 23 percent of the survey's respondents, trailed by Mitt Romney (20 percent). Gingrich was in third place, at 14 percent, down from 27 percent two weeks ago. What does Paul's surge mean for the 2012 race? Here, five talking points:

1. The GOP can't ignore Ron Paul

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