Rick Perry Leads in Iowa: Perry 29%, Bachmann 18%, Romney 17%, Paul 14%

Texas Governor Rick Perry is in the cat birds seat when it comes to polling in the first three GOP primary states. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, Perry leads in Iowa 29% with a double digit lead over US rep. Michele Bachmann (18%),  former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (17%) and Ron Paul (14%).  If Perry wins Iowa, he will take 2 of the 3 first primary states.

Confirming a surge seen in polling across the nation, Texas Governor Rick Perry has moved into first place among Republican voters in Iowa, host state to the first-in-the-nation caucus early next year.

A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of those likely to participate in the Iowa GOP Caucus shows that Perry is the first choice for 29%. Essentially tied for second are Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at 18% and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 17%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul picks up 14% of the vote, and nobody else currently reaches the five percent (5%) mark. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Nationally, Rick perry has a near double digit lead over his GOP Presidential primary challengers; however, in the primaries its all about how candidates do in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Obviously, Romney leads in NH, he better. If you are the former governor of a sister New England state, if Romney do not win NH, he is finished. However, what if Perry comes in second in the Granite state primaries, wins Iowa as he leads in to the above poll and runs away with the South Carolina primary …  Perry is in a great spot at this point. Let’s see how he does in this weeks GOP Presidential Primary debate.