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According to the latest Bloomberg News Poll.

With the Iowa caucuses just seven weeks away, a new poll indicates that it’s a four-way battle in the race for the GOP nomination in the Hawkeye State.

A Bloomberg News survey indicates 20% of Iowans likely to take part in the Republican caucuses say they support businessman Herman Cain for the nomination, with 19% backing Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who’s making his third run for the White House. Eighteen percent say they support former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who’s making his second run for the GOP nomination and 17% backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

It’s basically a four-way tie for the top spot when taking into account the survey’s sampling error. The poll’s Tuesday release comes seven weeks before Iowa’s January 3 caucuses, which kick off the presidential primary and caucus calendar.

According to the survey, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s at 7%, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota’s at 5%, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania’s at 3% and former Utah Gov. and former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman’s at 1%, with one in 10 unsure of who they’ll support.

The poll also indicates that six in 10 say they could still change their minds on which candidate they are backing.

The race is tightening up and remains fluid.

Who does this help?

Mitt Romney, of course, since he is way ahead in New Hampshire and has plenty of campaign cash to fight for the other states.

Iowa may be a break out moment for Newt Gingrich, but he has a lot of baggage. If not, Newt, then the nominee will likely be Mitt Romney (unless there is a draft movement).

Heartland Dental Care has signed a consent order with the North Carolina Dental Board.

The Flap is about the illegal transfer of ownership of a dental practice, owned by a North Carolina dentist, Gary Cameron to Heartland Dental Care in violation of North Carolina law.

Here is the consent order.

Heartland Consent Order Granting Injunction 9-6-11

And, the two dentists (Dr. Gary Cameron and Dr.Peter Son) involved in the buy-sell transactions were disciplined by the North Carolina Dental Board.

Here is Dr. Gary Cameron’s Consent Order in lieu of an Administrative Hearing.

At issue is North Carolina law called the Management Arrangement Rule (MAR) which was enacted by the North Carolina Legislature to protect the health and welfare with respect to the practice of dentistry.

They enacted the MAR to effectuate the Legislature’s mandate in the Dental Practice Act that the ownership of dental practices by unlicensed corporations and entities is prohibited because of the concern that when corporations which are unlicensed to practice dentistry gain improper control over dental practices, patient care may become secondary to profits thereby creating an endangerment to the public.

Here is Dr. Cameron’s Consent Order.

Dr. Peter Son, Dr. Cameron’s Associate accepted an official reprimand from the North Carolina Dental Doard for his involvement with Heartland Dental Care.

Here is the reprimand.

So, what does this all mean?

Heartland Dental Care, a dental management corporation, attempted to purchase Dr. Gary Cameron’s dental practice in violation of North Carolina law. They tried a series of agreements and contracts to skirt the law which prohibited them from a controlling interest in owning a dental practice.

Heartland Dental Care was caught, signed a punitive consent order with a permanent injunction and paid a fine.

Both dentists were disciplined.

In North Carolina, a licensed dentist MUST own and control a dental practice, not an unlicensed, business entity.

And, dentists are on notice, that should they be tempted to engage in business practices of selling their offices/practices unlawfully, they will have their dental licenses at stake and will be disciplined.

According to the latest Rasmussen Poll.

President Obama continues to lead all named Republicans in early polling on the 2012 race for the White House, but the numbers suggest a competitive race may be possible.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows the President earning 43% of the vote if Texas Governor Rick Perry is the GOP nominee. Perry attracts support from 40%. Ten percent (10%) say they’d prefer some other candidate while seven percent (7%) are not sure.

If Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is the GOP candidate, the president leads 43% to 39%. In that match-up, 12% would prefer some other candidate and seven percent (7%) are not sure.

With former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as his opponent, the president leads 46% to 38%. In an Obama-Romney contest, eight percent (8%) would look for a third party option while nine percent (9%) are not sure.

Well, this is a different poll from yesterday where Romney was the best against Obama. But, until the debates start and the GOP field starts to winnow itself out, we will probably see some variance.

One thing is positive: GOP candidates will be competitive with Obama in 2012.

When the lefty site Daily Kos makes a mention on this race between Craig Huey and Janice Hahn in California Congressional District 36 that something is going on, one has to wonder.

Democrat Janice Hahn has two new “contrast” ads out — spots which start by attacking Craig Huey for his extremism and finish by touting Hahn’s own credentials. Something must really be up in this race, because the second ad (both are available at the link) focuses on Hahn’s “non-partisan” credentials and both shy away from mentioning her party affiliation. If an out-and-proud Democrat is having a hard time winning in this district… just oy.

Well, there has been little buzz about this race lately and no “leaked” internal polling. I suspect this race is close.

Remember this is a July 12th special election and Craig Huey WILL turn out his conservative/Republican voters even though they are badly outnumbered in CA-36.

An upset in the making?

According to the latest PPP Poll.

PPP has polled the key early Republican contests of New Hampshire, Nevada, Iowa, and now South Carolina over the course of the last two months and they all have one thing in common: Mitt Romney with the lead. Romney and Sarah Palin may be closely matched in the national Republican polling right now but Romney’s considerably stronger in the states that matter most. Our most recent polls have him leading by 6 in Iowa, 15 in Nevada, and 23 in New Hampshire. And today’s numbers find him up by 9 in South Carolina at 27% to 18% for Palin, 12% each for Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich, 9% for Michele Bachmann, 7% for Ron Paul, 4% for Tim Pawlenty, and 2% for Jon Huntsman.

Romney’s formula for success in South Carolina is the same as in Iowa: dominate with the middle, lead with the center right, and avoid getting completely blown out of the water with the far right. Voters describing themselves as ‘very conservative’ are the largest segment of the Republican electorate in the state at 41% and Palin leads with them at 21% but Romney is at least right there at 20%. With moderates Romney leads by 26 points, getting 41% to Palin’s 15%. And with ‘somewhat conservative’ voters Romney gets 27% to 15% each for Gingrich and Palin.

The question: Is Mitt Romney starting to pull away from the rest of the field? Can he be considered the front runner?

Another question: Are Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann too late in the running to be the anti-Romney candidate?

Third question: What would throwing a Rudy Giuliani in the mix to compete for moderate Republican do to the race?

Last question: With Christie and Ryan favorables so high, would they become a viable anti-Romney candidate?

The entire poll is here.

Here is the favorable vs. unfavorable table:

Well, if he announces it will.

Governor Mitch Daniel’s possible run for president continues to gain national support. A political website announced Monday that Daniels is definitely throwing his hat into the ring.

Even though Governor Daniels has yet to make an announcement, it hasn’t stopped newspapers or fellow politicians from endorsing him nor has it stopped political websites like pculcpa.com from making the decision for him.

At the American Enterprise Institute last week, Daniels tip-toed around the issue, telling reporters he didn’t think it was too late to enter the ring.

“I really thought it might become too late somewhere along the line. If it had it would have been that. But for whatever reason I think it is a happy surprise,” Daniels said.

The Governor’s wife Cheri is scheduled to give an Indiana GOP speech this Thursday but reportedly this is being downplayed by Daniel’s insiders. Frankly, with Cheri’s aversion to politics (she is actually a sane politico’s wife), if Mitch is going to go, then he should annoounce today or tomorrow and spare her the grief of all of the press questions.

But, on the other hand, maybe that is the point. Announce after her speech and spare her the follow-up questions.

On Thursday, Daniels’ notoriously politics shy wife Cheri will keynote a dinner for the Indiana Republican Party, and it has been suggested that that would be the venue for Daniels’ big moment. But people familiar with the Hoosier governor say that it’s likely to be a bit more of a wait.

“I don’t want to oversell it by any means,” said one Indiana Republican familiar with the situation of the dinner Thursday. “I don’t expect an announcement of any kind to come that night (if it does, it would be a surprise).”

A more reasonable time to look for a decision, the Republican suggested, would be closer to Memorial Day.

Governor, time to fish or cut bait – soon.