Why the Fourth Most Popular Candidate in Iowa Is in First Place

Weekly Standard ^ | John McCormack | Jan 31, 2016

[Isara]

Des Moines - In the final Des Moines Register/Bloomberg poll, Donald Trump leads the field at 28 percent with Ted Cruz in second place at 23 percent and Marco Rubio in third at 15 percent.

What's remarkable is that Trump is leading despite fact that's he's a deeply polarizing figure among Republicans: Nearly half of likely caucusgoers (47 percent) view him unfavorably, while 50 percent view him favorably. Trump's +3 favorability rating is well behind the favorability ratings of Ben Carson (+50), Marco Rubio (+49), and Ted Cruz (+37). Polling analysts note this is highly unusual:

...

"It makes you scratch your head," J. Ann Selzer, the pollster who conducted the Des Moines Register survey, tells me. "The field is so big--that's part of it. You've got more popular candidates not getting the first-place vote."

The poll found that Trump would lose a two-man race against Cruz by 18 points--53 percent to 35 percent. Close to a majority of Iowa caucusgoers (48 percent) have become less comfortable with Trump winning the GOP nomination. And the largest percentage of caucusgoers (37 percent) said the nomination of Trump would be "not OK" with them. (Just 20 percent said the same of Cruz and 15 percent said the same of Rubio.)

...

[RummyChick]

Sheesh, are you not counting the money that was given to ensure the Veterans Day Parade in NYC could take place? The money that no one else would come up with?

I guess not.

[SaveFerris]

What happened to her, anyways? I only saw today that she was gone.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Well, besides that.

[usafa92]

Trump does not own strip clubs. Please stop spreading this lie. There is a Scores location in the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump does not own the Taj nor Scores. When Trump sold his casinos in 2009, he received stock and cash in exchange for the use of his name still being on the casino. Scores didn’t open until after Trump sold. You’ve been posting the same story for days here and it is incorrect.

[EDINVA]

Funny, I was thinking of him ... but ordinarily. WHO really has a brew with the POTUS?

I already am happily married, have a coupla kids, a grandchild even.. and lots of friends and associates. I don’t really care about the personality or feel the need for warm fuzzies from the POTUS. I want him to clean up the crap we’ve been dealt for the past few decades. At least a good bit of it. The job is massive.

[Awgie]

Yes! Thank you! Trump is a leader a fighter a winner. America First Now!

[napscoordinator]

Your last gasp at saving the Cruz disaster campaign.

Good luck. I think Rubio may beat Cruz even.

Trump
Rubio
Carson
Cruz
Paul.

[plewis1250]

Wow, what utter lies...

[deweyfrank]

You must visit her opus thread of late last night. Epic.

[Neu Pragmatist]

Which post are you referring to ?

[tumblindice]

Vulcan titty twister

[867V309]

To compare a solid, descent man like Ted Cruz to that snake Donald Trump...

Here's the full list of veterans organizations Trump singled out for donations: American Hero Adventures in Eugene, OR Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust in Cold Spring, KY Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, MD Folds of Honor in Owasso, Oklahoma Homes for our Troops in Taunton, MA America's Warriors in El Reno, OK Hope for the Warriors in Annandale, VA K9 for Warriors in Ponte Vedra, FL Liberty House in Manchester, NH Mulberry Street Veterans Shelter in Des Moines, IA Seal Foundation in Virginia Beach, VA Operation Homefront in Quincy, MA Partners for Patriots in Liberty, TN Projects for Patriots in Sioux City, IA Puppy Jake in Des Moines, IA Racing for Heroes in Mill Hall, PA Support Siouxland Soldiers in Sioux City, IA Task Force Dagger Foundation in McKinney, TX The Green Beret Foundation in San Antonio, TX Veterans Airlift Command in St. Louis Park, MN Warriors for Freedom in Stillwater, OK 22Kill in Dallas, TX PS: Good see that uber scam artists Wounded Warrior Project is not included in the list.

[HerrBlucher]

I have never liked any president ever, even the ones I voted for. It is that anti authority streak in me. I do love God though so that anti Authority streak only goes so far...;)

[Neu Pragmatist]

Well come on , which post were you referring to ?

[fingers_crossed]

Trump has definitely fallen from the pedestal I had him on at 1 time. I hope Sarah Palin and Phylis Schaffly know something about him we don’t. Even if he wins the Iowa caucus my thoughts of him as a person have been severely damaged. Actually I think a loss in Iowa may be the best that could happen to him.

[tumblindice]

Tomorra's another day (of pain) Scarlett

[Company Man]

Well, the opus itself was pretty lame. But the resulting zot thread was highly, highly entertaining.

[EDINVA]

If there’s one authority to like/follow, I do believe you chose the right one!!

[deweyfrank]

Yes it was. I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. But my prayers go out to poor Libby.

[plewis1250]

The one I replied to.