Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is seeing his popularity ratings soar higher than those of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, following the speaker's victory Saturday in the South Carolina primary.

Gingrich won 31 percent of approval ratings in daily polls on Republican presidential hopefuls, which were conducted by Gallop on Tuesday, local time. Romney polled at 27 percent.

The congressional newspaper “The Hill” also reported that in nationwide polls, Gingrich beat Romney and shot to first place for the first time in a month.

Survey results show that Gingrich leads Romney in the polls in Florida, which is holding a primary on January 31st.