Here’s the rundown direct from the poll source:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the Iowa caucus finds former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee with 28% of the vote, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney with 25% support, and everyone else far behind. National frontrunner Rudy Giuliani gets just 12% of the vote in Iowa at this time while former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson is the only other candidate in double digits at 11% (see crosstabs).

Given the margin of error, the challenges of determining the relatively small number of people who will participate in a caucus, and other factors, the race is far too close to call at this point in time. However, the fact that Romney is no longer the clear frontrunner in Iowa reflects a stunning change in the race.

The numbers:

Huckabee 28%
Romney 25%

This is pretty big news in Iowa even though it is only one poll. The point is that someone has finally knocked Romney off the Iowa mantle he’s had for so many months now, he appeared to be rock solid in Iowa. Clearly the electorate doesn’t think so.

Update:

Huckabee, according to Fox News, also earned the endorsement of the Falwell family:

LYNCHBURG, Va. — GOP dark horse Mike Huckabee earned the endorsement Wednesday of Jerry Falwell Jr. bringing a prominent Christian conservative into his corner as his popularity surges in the tightening Republican race.

Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University and son of the late televangelist, gave the endorsement in Lynchburg, Va., saying his father, who founded the Moral Majority, “supported Governor Huckabee before he was number two.”

The former Arkansas governor and Baptist pastor said Wednesday that prayer has played a big role in his recent polling success.

Furthermore, another poll out today shows Huckabee second place in Florida:

Giuliani 26%
Huckabee 17%
McCain 13%
Romney 12%

Big news day for Huckabee heading into tonight’s debate, I’m betting Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson will be taking some pot shots at him.

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