Yet another poll of Iowa shows former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum moving up in Iowa — a new We Ask America snap poll from last night shows Santorum taking second among likely attendees of Tuesday’s Republican caucuses with 17 percent. It’s the first poll to show the former senator within striking distance of the lead, as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is first with 24 percent. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is third with 14, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is fourth with 13. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who has slid drastically in most public polling of the state, is fifth with 12, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry gets ten.

From We Ask America’s analysis:

While many in the media seem to be focusing on the move up the food chain by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and the falling numbers for the last flavor-of-the-day Ron Paul, Romney seems finally to be breaking through as Iowa Republicans get closer to Caucus Day. Perhaps more important is the fact that 39 percent of all poll participants believe that Romney will ultimately be the flag carrier for the GOP in the fall.