Why, oh why, why, WHY is Newt not polling higher?
Honestly? Because he is Newt.
Great idea, wrong deliverer.
Most people form their opinions from how candidates are characterized in the press than they do from actual familiarity with the candidates themselves.
Consequently, polls tend to have a much stronger correlation to media characterization than they do to reality when the two do not agree.
Why, oh why, why, WHY would you act like you didn't already knew that? ;o)