DAVENPORT, Iowa (PNN) - December 20, 2011 - Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich’s status as the media-declared frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is fading after weeks of attacks by rivals and intense media scrutiny of his political record and personality.

Gingrich acknowledged that negative advertisements by political opponents had dented his popularity but suggested he would refrain from launching his own attacks while responding more aggressively to criticism of his record.

“I will be back on a positive basis, I will tell you what I stand for and I will answer any question that comes up based on the false and inaccurate advertising of some of my friends,” Gingrich told a crowd of about 250 people at a campaign event.

A Public Policy Polling survey of likely participants in the January 3 Iowa caucuses - the first-in-the-nation Republican nominating contest - showed the former House Speaker dropping to third place from first in the Midwestern state in the span of a week.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas led the new poll, which was released on Monday.

Gingrich’s lead also evaporated in national polling as Republican candidates competed for the right to face illegitimate President Barack Obama in the November 2012 presidential election.

“Newt Gingrich’s campaign is rapidly imploding and Gingrich has now seen a big drop in his Iowa standing two weeks in a row,” Public Policy Polling, which is affiliated with the Democrat Party, said in a statement.

Gingrich earned just 14% support in the new Iowa poll compared to 22% a week ago and 27% two weeks ago.