Posted on 12/07/2015 9:54:00 AM PST by Isara
Sen. Ted Cruz has surged past Donald Trump in Iowa with less than two months to go before the nation's first nominating contest, giving Cruz his first lead in any early voting state during the campaign.
A Monmouth University poll said Cruz has 24 percent support among likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa, a 14-point jump for the Texas senator since October.
Trump won 19 percent in the poll, giving Cruz a 5 percent lead that's outside the margin of error.
Much of Cruz's support stems from evangelical Iowans who back the conservative senator 30 percent to Trump's 18 percent. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson previously led the GOP field in support among this coveted demographic, but now earns just 15 percent support among evangelicals, putting him behind Cruz, Trump, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. (16 percent).
Cruz also carries a substantial lead among voters affiliated with the Tea Party. The freshman senator earns 36 percent support compared to Trump (20 percent), Carson (17 percent) and Rubio (11 percent).
Cruz's rise can also be attributed, in part, to his recent endorsement from Iowa Rep. Steve King. Roughly 20 percent of Republicans in the Hawkeye State said King's support makes them more inclined to back Cruz come Feb. 1, including 7 percent who claim King's endorsement makes them "a lot more likely."
Rubio has met with some difficulties while trying to woo Tea Party supporters after his role in the 2013 Gang of Eight immigration bill, which proposed a 13-year pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the United States. While that bill damaged his reputation among the hard-line conservative movement, the Florida senator leads the GOP field among women in Iowa with 23 percent support.
That support helped keep Rubio in third place in the poll. He follows right behind Trump's 19 percent with 17 percent in the poll. Carson, who had a commanding lead in Iowa less than two months ago, has plummeted to 13 percent. At 6 percent support, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is the only other Republican contender to poll above 5 percent.
According to the poll, Rubio is the most-liked Republican candidate in Iowa, as 70 percent of voters hold a positive view of the Florida senator. Cruz and Carson each boast a net-positive favorability rating of 67-19 percent, while Trump is viewed favorably by 54 percent of voters and unfavorably by 36 percent. Bush, meanwhile, has a net-negative favorability rating of 38-45 percent.
The New-Jersey based survey of 425 likely Republican caucus-goers was conducted between Dec. 3-6 and contains a margin of error plus or minus 4.8 percent.
Go Cruz!!
My position precisely.
If one is the nominee, I’d love to see the other become the running mate.
The link below is an excellent article on the topic. I encourage you to read it. In the article, note the stark contrast lobbyists have encountered with Cruz compared to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Cruz's predecessor in the Senate, Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Cruz's ideology trumps Texas' interests, businesses complain
I’d be very happy with either.
I just think Trump might do better in the general. Also he would be better at emasculating the media and the agencies.
That's false.
Bump because this one could get interesting...
Trump. Incredible executive experience and tells it like it is.
The Trumpty Dumpties are not going to like this thead sitting in Breaking News, bumping down DJT’s book signing live threads.
Apparently for many the cross between Elmer Gantry (without the booze) and Huey Long (without the sweat and the Southern accent) is...
That Trump?
.
Trump’s “Incredible executive experience” is the reason that the vast majority reject him.
The things he has done in business are demonstrative of the character needed in any public office, let alone the top job.
Awesome. The momentum an Iowa win generates can’t be denied but I will maintain that it doesn’t really mean much. They haven’t chosen correctly in years. One could argue it may even be the kiss of death to win Iowa.
And I’m a Cruz man make no mistake!
Just pointing out its not worth getting TOO excited about. Whoever wins there. It’s still good news though again do not get me wrong.
The things he has done in business are not demonstrative of the character needed in any public office, let alone the top job.
I am looking forward to the primary voting results. Polling is interesting but its the voting that really matters!
Everyone surges except Trump. Cruz putting all his eggs in Iowa, which frankly is meaningless.
Good news for a Monday morn
Ok, I’ll rephrase it, all major blockbuster donors are pro-amnesty. Again, a candidate can’t win without those big backers. It’s the reality.
The JFK effect.
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