Poll: Gingrich surges in Florida, Carolina

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Newt Gingrich's Republican presidential campaign is on a roll in states other than Iowa, a poll shows.

Gingrich has opened up a sizable lead in the early-primary states Florida and South Carolina, an NBC News-Marist poll released this weekend indicates.

The former House speaker from Georgia is ahead of Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, in both states by double digits, which Lee Miringoff, director of the Institute for Public Opinion at Marist, said was a disturbing development for Romney as he tries to build momentum heading into primary season. Other polls have shown Gingrich also doing well in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"You can see why the Romney people are getting a little itchy," Miringoff told NBC.

South Carolina holds its primary Jan. 21. Gingrich had the support of 42 percent of likely primary voters to Romney's 23 percent.

Gingrich leads Romney in Florida 44 percent to 29 percent. The Sunshine State's Republican primary is Jan. 31.

The South Carolina survey was held Dec. 4-6 among 2,107 total registered voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 2.1 percentage points, and among 635 likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 3.9 percentage points.

The Florida poll was conducted Dec. 4-7 of 2,119 total registered voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 2.1 percentage points, and of 469 likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 4.5 percentage points.