Posted on 01/09/2016 9:08:29 AM PST by Isara
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has emerged as the Republican Party’s strongest challenger to frontrunner Donald Trump, inching up in Economist/YouGov Polls. He is the second choice of 40% of Trump supporters among Republican primary voters, and his favorable ratings have climbed 20 points in the last six months.
Cruz’s upward trajectory (nationally as well as in Iowa) helps to explain recent sharp attacks made by Trump against the Texas Senator. So far there hasn’t been much negative movement against Cruz among Republicans. As has been the case for months, about one in five Republicans don’t like Cruz. But that’s lower than the level of unfavorable percentages for some of the other GOP candidates. Three in ten Republicans don’t like Donald Trump, while nearly half have an unfavorable view of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Although Cruz is the most-liked Republican candidate at the moment, two in three Republicans express favorable opinions of Florida Senator Marco Rubio and neurosurgeon Ben Carson, as well as of Trump.
Among all Republican primary voters, Cruz is the clear second choice. More than four in ten primary voters name Cruz as either their first or second choice. But Trump is still ahead of both the senators: nearly half say the New York businessman is their first or second choice.
Cruz runs well with self-identified conservatives likely to vote in the Republican nomination events, with those for whom religion is very important in their lives and with Tea Party supporters. But even in those groups Trump currently has an edge.
However, should Trump leave the presidential race, right now Cruz would become the new frontrunner: twice as many Republican primary voters choose him as choose Rubio, who is in second place in a race without Trump.
Cruz runs even with Trump among Republican voters in a head-to-head contest between only Trump and Cruz, and he leads Rubio by ten points when the two are pitted against each other.
But Trump continues to be seen by Republicans and non-Republicans alike as the party’s most likely nominee.
When it comes to electability in November, however, Republicans are just as likely to say Cruz could win a general election as to think Trump could. Three in four Republicans view each as possible victors against the Democratic nominee. Rubio is the only other GOP candidate a majority of Republicans view as a possible November winner. Less than half say Carson, who has fallen dramatically in popularity in the last few months, can win and a majority believe Bush is unelectable.
With less than a month to go before the Iowa Caucuses, attention to the campaign is high among Republican voters. 74% of GOP primary voters say they are following the election campaign most of the time – a percentage 15 points higher than the share of Democratic voters saying that.
Cruz’s performance in national GOP preference is being helped by the strong evaluations Republicans give him on a series of qualities and issues. 59% have confidence in Cruz’s ability to handle immigration. More, 68%, score Trump high on this question. Less than half of Republicans have confidence in Rubio, Carson or Bush on this issue. And for Republican primary voters, terrorism matters more than immigration. 26% of primary voters say terrorism is the country’s most important issue, compared to 9% who name immigration.
Cruz also scores just about as high as Trump does when it comes to GOP confidence on handling terrorism (51% of Republicans are confident in Rubio). And Cruz outscores Trump on readiness to be Commander-in-Chief.
62% of Republicans also describe Cruz as “honest and trustworthy,” more than say that about Trump, Rubio, and Bush. Carson continues to do as well as Cruz on this measure. The same percentage of Republicans, 62%, call Carson “honest and trustworthy.”
See the Economist/YouGov results
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here.
Won’t fool me. Unless Trump totally steps in it (such as becoming GOPe on immigration), my vote stays with TRUMP.
I like Cruz a lot (that’s why I never bad-mouth him), but I know they’re now propping up Ted as a last ditch measure to take down Trump...and then they will go after Cruz with the same VENGEANCE as they went Trump...except Cruz doesn’t have the charisma, political skills, or money to effectively fight back.
...then anyone care to guess who gets the nomination?
Since Trump entered the race the planext has been:
Setup someone as a viable alternative (Fiorina, Carson now Cruz)
Deflate Trump
Take out the alternative
Push Bush
I’m glad Cruz is getting a push. My main point is do not believe that the GOP has come around and actually back him. They don’t. Theyll stab him in the back as soon as it’s viable to do so and thats part of their plan.
Without Cruz Trump takes an even larger lead. lol
Seems like many Cruz support would go to Rubio or Christie
Am I understanding you saying Cruz is being propped up? By whom? I think Cruz has helped himself with debate performances and increased exposure. 23% on the favorable/unfavorable Gallup poll just out did not know who Cruz was. 94% knew who Trump was.
His Reaganesque persona and positive campaign is a stark contrast to his competition. His calm demeanor and logic with the opposition is brilliant and I don’t think can be learned.
Great article for Ted and his supporters. Ted is probably a great guy to have a beer with (or whiskey) and wax philosophically about the Constitution, the founding fathers, raising Godly children, etc., but at this time we need a “no holds barred” a_s kicker who’s got the stones and savvy to clean house and cast the progressive democrat Hillary, her ilk, and progressive policies to the ash heap of history...and sorry, that’s not Ted. There’s no time for flowery debate on a wall or immigration policy. We are well past that and need action now, not debate. Maybe as Trump’s VP for four years and then have a go at it, but not now.
Yes!! Go Ted!
There is no way I am voting for the Clinton plant named Trump.
I like Cruz a lot too. He was my first pick a year ago and that did not change until his positions on immigration and trade became clear. Excessive immigration and UNfair trade , (along with the moral degeneration of Cultural Marxist propaganda which Cruz seems to oppose) is destroying America. Cruz is NOT good on those issues.
I truly believe thay if Cruz sincerely changes on the trade and immigration issue, articulates it honestly and boldly and makes God witnessed promises he will support those pro-American policies he will gain supporters.
Like many of the brilliant, he has little real world experience like Trump and we ordinary ones. He needs to admit it, humble himself and listen to the people.
Please click on the pictures at the top of the columns for more details on the ratings of the candidates.
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More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates
It’s funny how Cruz said gravity will take down the poll numbers of Trump and Carson, laughing as if he was immune.
And, of course, he is for Renewable Fuel Standard (ethanol mandate), so governement can pick winners and losers.
Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)
Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.
Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review) This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)
Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN)
Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN)
Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller)
Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC)
Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post)
Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review)
In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)
Hey Erod!...They’re defecting from Hillary to Cruz!!!!
DAY 5...POWERFUL ...SHORT...AND TO THE POINT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gc3jpOwvHk&feature=youtu.be
Even with Curz, 1st and 2nd choice Trump=47, knocking on magic 50% door.
Even if the a**kicker is utterly untrustworthy?
Axe, with what we got in the 2010 and 2014 Congressional elections and the subsequent result as a comparison? Yes. The key is I don’t think anyone the Dems put up against Trump can withstand him. Cruz, however I don’t think can win against the corrupt Dems who will pull out all stops as, in my opinion, Cruz doesn’t have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the Dem machine. In a “fair” fight based on sound reasoning and logical arguments, maybe, but that’s not what the general election will be. Just look at last week. In one tweet and one Instagram video, Trump totally took the narrative away from Hillary and Bill. That talking point has been nullified. Cruz isn’t made that way, that’s not his campaign’s style or his personal style. Trump is used to dealing with people like the Dems and the Clintons. He knows where all the skeletons are and isn’t afraid to bring them out of the closet.
“Surging Ted” is still behind but at least he can see the soles of Trump’s shoes from where he sits in this one.
You make a very good point.
In some respects, I think Trump is destined to be a mafioso boss of the Republican party.
Without him, the public sphere cannot be corrected for its ingrained hatred and alienation toward conservatives.
An epistemic machine operates against Republicans and it wars against conservatives. Trump is able to break that machine.
I still support Cruz over Trump for President. Honestly, I think Trump might be the most ideal VP in history. A good VP brings the hardline for the main candidate so the lead candidate can secure the middle. Trump would do that really well.
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