Posted on 01/10/2016 6:42:48 PM PST by VinL
Donald Trump's questions about Ted Cruz's citizenship may not be helping him in Iowa. In fact, they may be boosting his rival according to one group of Hawkeye State voters.
In his latest focus group, pollster Frank Luntz asked if the fact that Cruz was born in Canada, to an American mother, raised legitimate concerns about his eligibility for president, as Trump has suggested. Only six of 27 participants raised their hands, even though seven identified Trump as their first-choice candidate.
One participant said the issue exposes Trump as "unserious," while another called it a "joke."
"Just a few months ago, he said his strongest lawyers said it's a settled issue and Cruz is eligible," one participant said. "Now three months later, when Cruz overtakes him in the polls, he says the exact opposite… It's not a serious issue at all."
The focus group expressed admiration for Cruz's handling of the situation, one member specifically calling his "Jump the Shark" tweet response to Trump "awesome."
“He's making a joke of this whole thing because that's what it is," one participant said.
"It's Ted Cruz. Rather than fight it and do something negative, he came back and found something positive and humorous,†another added.
But some focus group members said they thought the issue could be legitimate.
"We are nation of laws. And it was important the last time around, with the current president, if you don’t qualify you don’t qualify," a participant said, citing questions Trump raised about President Obama's birth, which were proven false.
"There are certain requirements to be president, and I don’t care who it is, they have to prove that they are eligible to become president," another participant added.
The focus group, conducted by Luntz and Google in Des Moines, was made up of likely GOP caucusgoers with a mix of first choice candidates: eight supporting Cruz, seven for Trump, four for Marc Rubio, three for Ben Carson, two for Chris Christie, and one each for Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina and John Kasich.
Trump did get some positive reaction to his new television ad, featuring his stances on banning Muslims from entering the U.S. and building a border wall with Mexico.
"He's spot on. The things he talked about in that ad is what’s affecting America right now — illegal immigration and ISIS,†one participant said.
But when Luntz asked the focus group whether they think Trump is going to win the Iowa caucuses, only two participants raised their hands.
And get this-- only 2 of the 27 thought Trump would win Iowa. ERGO--- Trump's sleazy Anita Hill attack.
This is a dupe, was posted earlier today.
If Americans cared what Iowans have to say, we’d have had GOP presidential nominees Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.
Did a 2nd search- mine’s the only one up— Must have been a different title.
Trump certainly seems to care about Iowa since he was willing to jump the shark and go full on birther in desperate bid to try and stop Cruz’s momentum there.
Well if Frank Luntz says it, it must be true! Hey, didn’t his Focus Group after the first Trump debate declare he was finished? Hey hey ho ho we don’t want no Trump! Luntz would never manipulate a focus group to turn on Trump, would he?
Evangelical.
its a trump supporter issue as seen by the posts here from most trump supporters insisting so.
Trump thought this would be a brilliant takedown of Cruz, especially if he could raise it in such a way that it didn’t sound like he was the one doing it — similar to Jimmy Carter’s repeated insistence (almost daily) during his 1980 primary campaign against Ted Kennedy that Chappaquiddick ought not to be an issue (thus making it one.)
Instead, it is backfiring on Trump and hurting him more than it’s hurting Cruz.
I guess he got tired of waiting for Cruz to pick a fight with him, as he’s been insisting Cruz has to do, and decided to pick the fight himself.
Not a smart move, Donald. But standard operating procedure for an Establishment deal-making politician.
No...It’s more like you and your merry band of 5 or 6 Cruz supporters here keep posting the same articles over and over. Funny, the two posts have the same exact titles. I’m sure it must have been an extra space or two in the title that threw it off...
The only thing worse about Trump talking about Cruz's status is the 754 stories that pop up on Free Republic.
At this point, I think we kinda get the point that some people are bothered by this.
Cruz would trade his current polling position with Trump in a heartbeat if he could.
Many do not— 10s of thousands do not. The Supreme Court does not.
Funny, tonight Luntz is a hero....other times, not so much, eh?
If you believe this article, why are you complaining?
Trump is helping Cruz.
You seem angry, not happy.
Then why is Trump sounding more and more desperate.
That’s funny! Very creative!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.