While three new polls from Iowa released on Tuesday showed Newt Gingrich as the new frontrunner in that important state, Republicans in the Congress continued to send mixed signals about the idea of the former U.S. House Speaker being their party's standard bearer next November.
"That's the way Newt has always been; he's been a lightning rod," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, who called Gingrich a mentor and a friend.
But Chambliss admitted that when reporters are out of earshot, his colleagues are expressing misgivings about Gingrich.
"Some people love him, some people are completely turned off by him," said Chambliss with a smile, as we spoke just off the Senate floor.
"Newt's certainly done very well," Chambliss added, again refusing to endorse anyone, joining other GOP lawmakers in trying to stay on the fence.
Just down the hall by the elevators, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) was fielding much the same question about the former Speaker.
"He's more tested than any of the others," said Kirk, as he predicted that Gingrich would go through a rough next week.
Kirk - who many expect will endorse Mitt Romney - wasn't giving anything away as he handicapped the GOP field.
"The great thing for the 'Anti-Romney' is the one who peaks last - is the one who won the lottery," said Kirk.
Not only did Gingrich have three good polls in Iowa, but also was well out in front in a new poll from South Carolina.
"It's changing every week," said Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, who told reporters that "it's between Romney and Gingrich right now."
"Certainly he's viable," DeMint said of Gingrich, who earlier this year got a verbal rebuke from Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, but recently seems to have seen his fortunes change in the Palmetto State.
South Carolina votes on January 21, over two weeks after Iowa on January 3, which is followed by New Hampshire on January 10.
Still, even with Gingrich's surge in the polls, you can feel a reluctance among Republicans to get on board with him.
The ghosts of Gingrich's past are here in the hallways on the Capitol, and lawmakers feel that presence. But out in the grass roots, there's a lot of excitement for Gingrich.
It makes for a very interesting mix with 4 weeks until Iowa.
