Gingrich is new GOP frontrunner
>>> now we turn to politics. the presidential campaign trail and the new republican frontrunner who was pretty much left for dead politically a few months back. this is the new rise of the former speaker named newt. our chief white house correspondent and political director chuck todd has our report.
>> reporter: the new republican frontrunner, newt gingrich in new york city today.
>> i have come to new york for two different reasons today. one is to make the case that if i do become the nominee we are going to compete in all 50 states .
>> reporter: the second reason, to pay a visit to businessman donald trump .
>> donald trump is a great showman and also a great businessman. if we are trying to create jobs one of the differences between my party and the other party is we actually go to people who know how to create jobs.
>> reporter: with her man cain's decision to drop out for now.
>> i am suspending my campaign.
>> reporter: the new poll shows gingrich with a substantial lead in iowa, a strong second in new hampshire, romney 's backyard. gingrich is benefitting in part because large majorities of republicans believe romney is a moderate, not a conservative. the new frontrunner's first tv ad drew the attention of the obama campaign today.
>> because working together, i know we can rebuild america.
>> you're talking about the god father of grid lock here who really invented the tactics that have become common place in washington a.
>> welcome to iowa.
>> good to be here.
>> reporter: a month away from the iowa caucuses the republican race is far from settled. in trump's plan to moderate a republican debate is making some main stream republicans uncomfortable.
>> i think the republican national chairman ought to say we strongly discourage a candidate from appearing in a debate.
>> karl rove gave us george bush who crashed and burned. because of that we have obama.
>> reporter: like other front runners, gingrich has problems in his own party, even with fellow conservatives like tom coburn who gingrich help hed sweep into congress in 1994 .
>> there are all types of leaders. leaders that instill confidence, leaders that are abrupt and brisk. leaders with one standard for the people they are leading and a different standard for themselves.
>> reporter: an interesting nugget on the famous class of 1994 newt gingrich swept into congress. so far not a single member of that class has yet to endorse gingrich for president. a few endorsed other canada datas.
>> interesting to see how it collides with the money and organization of the romney campaign. chuck todd , we'll stay at
