Des Moines Register Final Poll Results Ahead of Iowa Caucuses: Romney, Paul, Santorum, Gingrich, Perry, Bachmann – 12/31/11

The Des Moines Register has released it’s final poll ahead of the January 3, 2012, Iowa Caucuses. Here are the results:

Dec 27-30: Romney leads at 24. Paul 22, Santorum 15, Gingrich 12, Perry 11, Bachmann 7.

However:

Final 2 days of DMR polling Santorum ahead to 21, Paul in 3rd at 18. Romney remains same at top, 24. Others same order.

Larry Sabato Tweets about the results of the poll:

Everyone says Santorum peaked at just right moment. But did he? Sustained negative ads in final 72 hrs by others can reverse Sant-Surge.

Will other candidates go negative on Santorum on TV? Who can turn them around fast? Romney, Paul, Perry.

Check all the polls and the polling averages in Iowa. Romney leads the 4-day polling average by 3 points.

Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight over at the New York Times has factored the Register Poll into their latest projection for the Iowa Caucuses: Romney 24.2%, Paul 19.2%, Santorum 17.3%, Gingrich 13.8% . . . .