Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the new field leader in Iowa, according to a new poll conducted by the American Research Group. Gingrich previously received the support of just 8% of voters in the Hawkeye State, which holds the first caucus in the country.

The field stands:

• Newt Gingrich: 27%
• Mitt Romney: 20%
• Ron Paul: 16%
• Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain: 6%
• Rick Perry: 5%
• Jon Huntsman: 3%

A couple of observations:

1) It’s pretty clear that social issues aren’t the big deciding factor in Iowa this year, as evidence by the fact Gingrich is 21 points ahead of Santorum and 22 points ahead of Perry. Both frontrunners — Romney and Gingrich — aren’t exactly known for their strong social conservatism.

2) My how both Perry and Cain have fallen from grace. Perry was once odds-on favorite to carry Iowa. Now he’s just two points ahead of Jon Huntsman, the former Obama employee last seen mocking social conservatives and conservatism in general.

3) Huntsman’s base remains three guys named Dwight, despite the media’s best attempts to portray him as the Philosopher-Candidate and most qualified candidate. Who could have guessed mocking conservatives could cost you votes in the Republican primary. Go figure.