Scott Walker leads big in Iowa

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has a strong lead in early voting Iowa, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University.

{mosads}Walker sits at 25 percent support in the live-caller poll, almost doubling up his next closest rival, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has 13 percent in the poll.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) pull 11 percent apiece, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) earns 10 percent support in the poll. No other candidate has more than 5 percent support.

Walker has made a strong first impression in Iowa following his well-received January speech, and the recent media firestorm over his refusal to answer what he considers “gotcha” questions hasn’t made a ripple with Republican voters. His approval rating with Republicans sits at 57 percent, with just 7 percent disapproving.

The poll also contains some worrisome numbers for Bush, who has done the most to assemble a campaign team and is viewed as the front-runner in many circles. The former Florida governor’s approval rating is at 41 percent with 40 percent of Iowa Republicans disapproving, a higher disapproval rating than any other candidate besides New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

The poll is the second in as many weeks to show Walker surging in Iowa, whose caucuses kick off the presidential primary calendar.

The live-caller survey of 623 likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers reached on landlines and cellphones was conducted from Feb. 16-23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.