Posted on 02/24/2016 3:44:55 PM PST by Red Steel
With the so-called "SEC primary" quickly approaching, Donald Trump has a 17-point lead over his closest rival in Alabama, according to a new poll. Master Image, a Birmingham-based Republican consulting firm, released a poll Wednesday showing Trump with 36 percent, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 19 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 12 percent, former neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 8 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 7 percent. Seventeen percent of those polled are still undecided.
On Tuesday, a slew of states will go to the polls, including in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia. Trump is leading in many of these states; the day is also especially important to candidates like Cruz, whose strategy has long included winning a lot of delegates in the South.
"Trump's popularity in Alabama continues the trend we see elsewhere," said Joe Sanders, the president of Master Image. "Trump's numbers in Alabama appear to be a few points lower than other southern states, but in line with what should happen on March 1, considering almost one in five voters remain undecided.â€
As for Rubio being in second place in the poll, Sanders said the candidate is clearly benefiting from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s withdrawal from the race: "I think it is obvious the Bush voters have moved to Rubio."
The poll shows a troubling trend for Cruz: in January, he had 17 percent support, in early February he had 13 percent, and now he has 12 percent.
Kasich has the backing of Alabama's GOP Gov. Robert Bentley. Carson, who hasn’t placed very well in the early states so far, is thinking he could do better in southern states. But Sanders says neither appear to be gaining momentum.
"John Kasich and Ben Carson are gaining little ground in Alabama and their numbers are flat," Sanders said.
The survey was conducted Tuesday of 1,556 Alabama Republicans with a 4.2 percent margin of error.
The only state I see Cruz having a lead is in Texas. Maybe an older poll out of Utah. He is sliding down in a lot of states.
Its not definite yet but we have three Georgia votes for Trump in my family in Georgia....
Why is Cruz doing almost all his pre-ST campaigning in Texas?
He’s the elected Senator from there.
All 5 out of 6 dems in my weekly Friday night poker game are voting for trump. This in California. The 3 conservatives are also voting trump.
“Why is Cruz doing almost all his pre-ST campaigning in Texas?”
Because if he doesn’t win big there he is out?
Cruz would need 50% of the Texas vote to make a small headway in delegates against Trump, but that’s not going to happen and when he loses all the rest of the Super Tuesday states to Trump.
If Cruz loses Texas, he is out. TX may very well be the only state he wins in the South.
With Abbot's endorsement today, that is extremely unlikely.
Our governor is extremely popular and influential.
He's finished as it is. Carrying his home state at this point is nothing more than a matter of personal pride.
“With Abbot’s endorsement today, that is extremely unlikely. Our governor is extremely popular and influential.”
How influential would Abbott be if he endorsed Trump. Would that change your vote?
Endorsements mean very little when the candidates are well known.
Rubio’s South Carolina endorsements didn’t help him.
Watching this demented scumbag Peter King from NY on CNN saying that its now a 2 man race and Marco Rubio is the one, Trump and Cruz suck.
Seriously?
Peter King is effin insane.
This will not be forgotten.
He needs to go.
Not a good sign for Cruz, he is having to defend his home base, thus he can’t go and work other states. Trump is free to hit all the states, so even if Cruz wins Texas, after March 1, he is going to be way behind Trump in the count even if he pulls in to 2nd place with delegates. He will say he is the clear 2nd choice (I don’t think he is). Rubio is going to stay till 15 March with the hope of winning Florida, again, he will have to follow the same Cruz strategy and campaign to hold is home turf, Trump will be free to have a multi state campaign. Again, Trump wins most of the states and he is at that point close to half way in terms of delegate counts.
DESTROY MARCO RUBIO
PERIOD
Cruz is the sitting senator from TX. He should win the state big time with over 50%, so say some of his supporters. If it is a close victory for Cruz, it does not bode well for him. He needs a smashing victory akin to Trump's victories in NV, SC, and NH.
It’s time to CRUCIFY the LIAR AMNESTY TWERP GANG OF 8 FOAM PARTY LISPING FAGGOT MARCO RUBIO.
SAYS ONE THING ON SPANISH TV AND ANOTHER ON ENGLISH TV.
WANTS TO FLOOD THE USA WITH HISPANIC PARASITE ILLEGAL ALIENS AND GRANT THEM CITIZENSHIP.
Rubio is a degenerate douchebag who has done nothing in life except con simpletons from Florida into voting him into office.
Hes a conniving backstabber, has no qualifications to be President, no different than the animal in the WH right now.
Piss off Rubio you TWERP.
It will become apparent very quickly that Rubio is another hack lawyer with a big mouth and no accomplishments.
Cruz at least went to Harvard and argued cases in front of the Supreme Court. Carsons a brain surgeon, Trump is Trump, even Kasich and Jeb were effective Governors.
Rubio doesnt deserve to be on the same stage as these guys.
Marco went to community college and started running for office (West Miami City Commissioner) as soon as he graduated from law school at UM.
Hes never worked an honest day in his life.
DEPORT TODAY, DEPORT TOMORROW, DEPORT FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!
is even super abbot or Cruz doing anything about stopping the flood of illegals crossing the Texas or US border from Mexico. no they are still invading
Because if he can't carry Texas, his campaign is done. And apparently he's worried enough to have Heidi going full blast.
Rubio delende est. :-)
Any other suggestions?
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.