The image of Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, leading in some Iowa polls, is seen in a display on December 14, announcing Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate on the Las Vegas Strip.
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The revealing poll is not good reading for other candidates in the race, as behind Mr Cruz, Marco Rubio polls at 10 per cent, neurosurgeon Ben Carson slumps to nine per cent, and all other candidate score below five per cent.
As it turns out, a majority of Republicans support Trump’s proposal, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday. Cruz has been cautious about saying anything, at least in public, that might make it harder for him to attract Trump supporters later.
Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin blasted GOP front-runner Donald Trump for falling for media traps on Sunday and criticizing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Texas Sen.
But rival Ted Cruz is gaining ground in the early voting state of Iowa.
Perhaps they would open with his immortal line from the Cleveland debate – that he had “taken advantage of the laws of this country” in having his companies declare bankruptcy four times. Trump’s remarks stirred global outrage, and other candidates blasted him.
He now enjoys a net-positive rating of 61-29 percent, while Cruz and Rubio are viewed favorably by 55 percent and 58 percent of GOP voters, respectively.
Cruz responded playfully by tweeting out “Maniac” from the 1983 movie “Flashdance”, calling Trump a friend. Lindsey Graham and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
That bunch-up around third place masks some clear trends that have developed in recent New Hampshire polling, Christie’s numbers are on the rise, with the governor averaging 11 percent in the two polls conducted after Thanksgiving compared with 5 percent in the three conducted earlier in November.
The stage will be more crowded than the previous showing on Fox Business.
A showdown between Cruz and Rubio could be a highlight of the primary season, since they are both supremely talented debaters.
The group’s warning to Trump came days after the outspoken billionaire proposed to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States in response to last week’s shooting spree in San Bernardino by two Muslims who the Federal Bureau of Investigation said had been radicalised.
University of Texas at Austin professor of government Bruce Buchanan said Cruz was a “whip-smart” and disciplined candidate savvily appealing to conservatives who are unperturbed by his poor relations with the leadership in his own party, or his lack of experience when compared to establishment candidates.
But by Sunday, Trump responded: “I was disappointed that Ted Cruz would speak behind my back, get caught, and then deny it. Well, welcome to the wonderful world of politics!”
John Pereszlenyi, a Las Vegas resident in attendance, says Trump says a lot of what he’s thinking and admits he agrees a lot with Cruz, but he’s pledged his support for Rubio. You look at the way he’s dealt with the Senate where he goes in there like a… You’re never gonna get things done that way.
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Former Washoe County Republican Chair Sam Kumar agreed, but added each of the candidates didn’t necessarily need to pit themselves against each other on the issue.
