The Hill News

Herman Cain’s support has nearly tripled since his surprise win in Saturday’s Florida straw poll, according to a poll released Wednesday by Fox News. In the new poll, Mitt Romney regains front-runner status, garnering 23 percent of Republican support and surpassing Rick Perry, who shot to the top of the polls upon entering the race last month.

But stumbles in the GOP debates â€" and speculation that other popular candidates such as Chris Christie may join the race â€" have dropped the Texas governor to second place in the national poll. Perry now has the support of 19 percent of Republican voters, a fall of 10 percent from a month ago.

Perry’s fall has been Cain’s gain: The former businessman is now the choice of 17 percent of voters. Newt Gingrich, who had been written off by many after a rocky campaign roll-out that included the resignation of much of his staff, joined Cain as insurgent candidates earning double-digit favor. Eleven percent of voters chose the former House Speaker as their preferred candidate.

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