Polls push Cruz as potential Trump beater in Republican race
The Texas senator has wooed the supporters of retired surgeon Ben Carson.
Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, is emerging as the candidate to beat Donald Trump in the Republican presidential nomination contest.
However, Mr Trump has risen to a new high while one-time leader Ben Carson’s support has plummeted among Republican primary voters, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds.
A separate poll, conducted by The Des Moines Register and Bloomberg Politics, finds Mr Cruz commanding 31% of 400 likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa, 10 points ahead of Mr Trump, who received 21%.
In the national WSJ/NBC poll, Mr Trump leads the Republican field, with 27% support (up from 23%), taking over the top position from Mr Carson.
Mr Cruz has vaulted into second place on 22%, up from 10% in the previous poll taken in late October.
Mr Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, dropped to fourth place with 11% (down from 29%) behind Senator Mario Rubio, of Florida (15%).
The shifts are a reminder that the large presidential candidate field is still sorting itself out, less than two months before the nominating process begins with the February 1 Iowa caucuses.
Mr Cruz has been assiduously courting evangelical voters, who had also been drawn to Mr Carson, and the poll suggests his efforts are reaping benefits.
Mr Cruz is particularly strong among “values voters,” who support traditional marriage and oppose abortion rights.
The one-time poll leader, before Mr Trump put forward his candidacy, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, is down to 7%, ahead of former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina (5%).
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and New Jersey governor Chris Christie are on 3% each, while Ohio governor John Kasich and Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, have 2% each.
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Nevil Gibson
Mon, 14 Dec 2015
Mon, 14 Dec 2015
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Polls push Cruz as potential Trump beater in Republican race
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