Two New Polls: Gingrich Running Away from SC Field (Updated)

Newt Gingrich has surged past Republican presidential contenders, with at least one-third of those surveyed over the week supporting the former House Speaker, according to two new polls released today.

Gingrich garnered support of 38 percent in the most-recent Insider Advantage poll of South Carolina Republicans conducted Monday evening for the Augusta Chronicle.

The former House Speaker, according to the poll of 519 likely Jan. 21 primary voters, has a commanding lead over former Gov. Mitt Romney at 15 percent and businessman Herman Cain at 13 percent.

No other candidate has support in the double-digits, as Rep. Ron Paul polled at 7 percent, Gov. Rick Perry at 4 percent, Rep. Michele Bachmann at 3 percent and former Sen. Rick Santorum at 2 percent.

In an American Research Group phone poll of 600 voters conducted Friday through Monday, Gingrich's lead was slimmer but still sizeable over Romney, 33 percent to 22 percent. Gingrich, polling at 8 percent by ARG just a month ago, has taken full advantage of eroding support for both Perry and Cain, who fell from 26 percent to 10 percent.

More than 40 percent of those surveyed who identified themselves as being a part of the Tea Party movement also supported Gingrich.