Posted on 02/29/2016 5:04:20 PM PST by SatinDoll
A new CNN/ORC national poll (full pdf below) is being highlighted in the media discussion based on the top-line results: Donald Trump 49% !
However, that’s not the real headline in the data. The real lead story should be the damage Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have done to themselves as they continue a scorched-earth campaign.
The first signals of a backlash appeared over the weekend’s polling when it became clear Senator Rubio and Senator Cruz where losing support at an exponential rate the longer they continued to make unfounded accusations. Donald Trump and Ben Carson are benefactors of the Rubio/Cruz kamikaze mission:
[See poll data here]
There’s an increased possibility Cruz may lose Texas if enough Trump supporters can turn out in any similar proportion to previous state turnouts. Ted Cruz entire campaign apparatus has fallen back upon Texas, and his latest rally (today) drew only a few hundred supporters.
It is increasingly improbable to project Ted Cruz as the likely winner of Texas when all other Super-Tuesday polling, and national polling, shows an entirely divergent reality.
Via CNN – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are poised to lead the nation’s two major parties in this fall’s presidential election, with a new nationwide CNN/ORC poll finding each well ahead of their closest competitors just as the race expands to a national stage.
Trump has expanded his lead over the diminished field to capture the support of nearly half of Republican voters, while Clinton tops Sanders by nearly 20 points.
On the Republican side, the new survey finds Trump’s lead is dominant, and his support tops that of his four remaining opponents combined. The businessman tops his nearest competitor by more than 30 points: 49% back Trump, 16% Marco Rubio, 15% Ted Cruz, 10% Ben Carson and 6% John Kasich.
Trump’s supporters are incredibly enthusiastic about the coming election, and largely committed in their support for him. Nearly 8 in 10 say that they are more enthusiastic about voting this year than in previous elections, among Republicans who are not supporting Trump, just 39% say they are more enthusiastic than in years past.
Likewise, 78% of Trump’s backers say they will definitely support him vs. 22% who say they could still change their minds. Among those backing other candidates, 57% say they are committed to their chosen candidate.
The survey asked those Republicans not currently backing Trump whether they would support him if he became the party’s nominee, and just a quarter of Republicans overall say they probably or definitely wouldn’t support him in November. That’s about the same as the share saying they wouldn’t back Rubio or Cruz.
Wait till Trump the racist, picks Carson as a running mate.
The hysteria just reeks of desperation on the part of the "powers that be" and the fact that Trump is doing a modern version of Stonewall Jackson's stand in the face of fire is something that's getting notice.
Many of us here warned those like you that Cruz teaming up with Rubio
to attack Trump at the recent debate was a big mistake.
It appears it was a big mistake. Cruz may lose Texas.
Trump wins Texas if Cruz does not beat him by double digits.
Actually, after the latest betrayals by the GOPe, a Trump/Carson ticket is not out of the question. It would be the ultimate rebuke to the party for it’s blatant disloyalty and chicanery to shove two complete outsiders down their throats.
No, but as long as it is close, the delegate distribution is about equal, and with what Trump is expected to pick up in other states, should be quite the blow to Cruz and Rubio. Remember when the south was supposed to be Cruz’s firewall?
How about doubling down on the border focus, and picking Allen West?
Why is there no backlash against Trump, since he started all the politics of personal destruction? He started on Carson, likening him to a child molester, criticized Carly Fiorina’s face, called Jeb “low energy” and Cruz a “really nasty liar”, and is now demeaning Rubio. Why are Trump supporters so entirely unable to see that Trump is actually worse about these things than the others?
Rush can no longer be believed or trusted to be truthful.
His own fault.
He only attacks those who first attack him.
You want to argue about issues? OK. But attack or insult him, look out!
The politics of personal destruction was alive and well used by the Clintons in Arkansas during the 1980s.
I will demean Rubio for you.
He is a nasty little child foam boy amnesty pimp for sale to anyone who will pay him.
How is that?
This is what it says for the Republican half they included in the poll - total 427.
Trump is the Establishment.
he is a new York plutocrat.
He supports abortion rights.
He opposes property rights.
He opposes the bill of rights.
He believes only the rich and wealthy should be able to run for public office.
He believes that Carson, Cruz, and Rubio are the worst politicians to serve this nation.
He believes that Reid and McConnell are decent politicians and worthy of “the deal”
In short, only conservatives are bad, everyone else is a respectable figure in politics.
Ever notice how soon Rubio & Cruz teamed up on Trump, right after Obama announced that trip to Cuba? /tinfoil>
Right
Up is down
right is left
Trump is the only person telling the truth anymore.
Anyone who disagrees is a liar.
It was disgraceful at he last debate when the little twerp walked behind Trump to shake Cruz’s hand with a wink and a nod. Those two are finished. Trump will not forget that, and I think Trump can be vindictive. We will see their career paths...
Non eligible, not Natural Born Citizens, Cubans, Chihuahua Prespiration Marko and Pinocchio Desperation Ted attacking Big Donald at CNN freestyle match.
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.