5:36 p.m.: Much shorter speech in Fort Myers, Gingrich more than an hour late; Occupy protesters arrested, still a huge crowd, around 1,000
5:28 p.m.: Occupier protester just arrested at Gingrich event.
2:59 p.m.: Gingrich event just ended, on to Ft. Myers; also all candidates scheduled to be at Univision event in Miami
2:24 p.m.: Gingrich takes the stage
2:01 p.m.: From NBC's Alex Moe, sheriff in Sarasota speculating between 2,500 and 3,000 people at Gingrich event. Lots of people waving American flags - one of the most patriotic type events Gingrich has held.
1:51 p.m.: More than 600 people here at Newt Gingrich event in Sarasota, it's packed! About a dozen Ron Paul supporters outside holding signs. Couple dressed up like Newt and Calista Gingrich with a Nancy Pelosi sign out front.
PICTURES: Newt Gingrich in Florida
Original story: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new national poll shows Mitt Romney is in a free fall with Newt Gingrich now leading for the GOP presidential nomination.
Gingrich now has 31% support from registered Republican voters in the Gallup daily tracking poll, compared with 27% for the former Massachusetts governor.
MORE: Political Florida
The former House speaker now has completely erased a 23-point advantage Romney enjoyed earlier this month. Gingrich's standing reflects a surge last week, when he pulled in two strong debate performances and soundly defeated Romney in the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.
The poll, a five-day rolling average, reflects a change from yesterday, which showed Gingrich and Romney in a dead heat.
In hypothetical matchups, President Obama would lead both Romney and Gingrich, 50%-48%, according to the tracking poll.
Gallup's Frank Newport said in a blog post yesterday that Gingrich's gains have come mostly from conservative Republicans. Gingrich jumped by 12 percentage points with that voting group, as Romney's support among conservatives fell.
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul each have 12% support among GOP registered voters nationwide, Gallup says.
USA Today