WASHINGTON (PNN) - November 10, 2011 - After stumbling badly out of the gate, Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign is showing surprising signs of life - rising in the polls and even attracting rising support from evangelical voters who have long been cool to the former House speaker.

“I definitely think it ends up Newt versus [former Massachusetts Gov.] Mitt Romney at some point after the caucuses and primaries are underway,” said Iowa House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, a Republican who has endorsed the Georgian in her state’s key January caucuses.

“Newt will become the major challenger to Romney,” said Polk County, Iowa, GOP Chairman Daryl Kearney. “All national polls now have Newt with a solid hold on third place.”

He cited a new North Carolina poll that placed Gingrich second to Romney ahead of former businessman Herman Cain.

Coupling a string of strong debate performance with rising doubts among the Party faithful about the viability of Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Cain, Gingrich could become the race’s new magnet for Republicans looking for an alternative to Romney.

Meanwhile, candidate Dr. Ron Paul, who has won more significant straw polls than any other GOP candidate, continues to be ignored, disrespected and disregarded by mainstream media, which has resulted in destroying any credibility that official polls may once have had.