New NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showing Gingrich nine points ahead of Romney among GOP voters nationwide — but he does worse even than Santorum in a general match-up against Obama:

“Gingrich is Goldwater,” said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “In the general election, Gingrich not only takes down his ship, he takes down the whole flotilla.”

I’m thinking that Republican voters, having seen how badly Newt whiffed these last two debates against Romney and even Santorum, may be reconsidering their love for the Moon Man.

By the way, Andrew Sullivan points out that Romney lied tonight when he said he voted for a Republican every time there was one on the ballot.