WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich has extended his lead over Mitt Romney to include the heartland as well as early-primary states and Florida, new surveys released yesterday found.
The former House speaker now leads Romney, 36-18 percent, in Ohio, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
In Pennsylvania, he thumps Romney, 31-17.
And in Florida, a big prize and an expensive media market central to Romney’s plans, Gingrich leads Romney, 35-22.
Gingrich also runs competitively with Romney in matchups against President Obama — though Romney runs stronger.
In Florida, Romney beats Obama, 45-42, while Obama beats Gingrich, 46-44. But the two Republicans run the same against Obama in Ohio, both edging him, 43-42.
In Pennsylvania, Obama beats Romney, 46-43, while topping Gingrich, 48-40.
Gingrich also leads Romney in Iowa polls and has been gaining on him in New Hampshire, the state holding the first primary.