Thread: Latest polls offer good news for GOP’s top tier

Latest polls offer good news for GOP’s top tier

10/22/15 08:40 AM—Updated 10/22/15 04:17 PM
By Steve Benen

In early July, a Republican presidential hopeful by the name of Donald Trump took the lead in national 2016 poll – and he hasn’t relinquished that advantage yet. Indeed, by some measures, the New York developer actually appears to be gaining strength in national surveys.

Yesterday, a Washington Post/ABC News poll found Trump dominating the GOP’s presidential field with 32% support, while Ben Carson was a not-so-close second with 22%. Marco Rubio was third, but at 10% support, he barely cracked double digits. A Monmouth poll offered similar results, with Trump leading Carson by 10 points, 28% to 18%. Ted Cruz was in third with 10%.

But while this is a race for a national party’s nomination, it’s also a state-by-state nominating process, and Trump’s advantage in Iowa is far less dominant. In fact, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Carson pulling ahead in the first caucus state.

1. Ben Carson: 28% (up seven points from early September)
2. Donald Trump: 20% (down seven points)
3. Marco Rubio: 13% (up eight points)
4. Ted Cruz 10% (up one point)
5. Rand Paul: 6% (up two points)
6. Jeb Bush: 5% (down one point)
6. Carly Fiorina: 5% (unchanged)

The remaining candidates were at 3% or lower.

In his report on the data, Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, explained, “Today’s results show his appeal is especially strong among the state’s sizeable white, evangelical Christian community, among whom Carson is receiving 36 percent, twice Trump’s 17 percent.”

He added, “Those who know Carson seem to like him. He has an almost unheard of 84 - 10 percent favorability rating among likely Republican Caucus-goers, compared to Trump’s 53 - 43 percent rating. To borrow the line from Madison Avenue, ‘Almost no one doesn’t like Ben Carson.’”

Remember, all of this comes after Carson’s recent controversies in which the retired right-wing neurosurgeon came across as more than a little nutty.

What’s more, it’s not just Iowa. Wisconsin Public Radio published a poll yesterday on Republican voters’ preferences in the Badger State.

1. Ben Carson: 20%
2. Donald Trump: 18%
2. Marco Rubio: 18%
4. Ted Cruz: 10%
5. Carly Fiorina: 8%

The remaining candidates were at 3% or lower.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-s...-gops-top-tier

Come on Wisconsin? Really? 18% for Marco Rubio? Mr. Amnesty? Mr. Free Trade Treason? HONESTLY??!!

I have been trying to persuade patriots and Trump to beware the negative ads "Carpet-Bombing" strategy (flooding the airwaves with negative ads). I have seen on Fox news that the strategy has been used in Iowa and the perpetrators (Club for Growth) are gloating about their success in diverting support for Trump to Carson. The "Carpet Bombing" negative ads strategy is almost always successful if the ads are not immediately responded to by the candidate being attacked. Wait too long to respond to them and the negative ads' theme becomes part of the folk lore and become nearly impossible to undo. I really think Trump needs to match them ad for ad.

Donald Trump, you can never get too much air time on radio and TV. Do not rely on the Teflon effect. Your supporters are disenchanted and alienated from the old politics but they are not blindly loyal. They love you but they have been deceived over and over again therefore their support is fragile. And never forget there is a huge number of GOP know nothings who are gullible and easily influenced. Together with misguided "conservatives" and RINOs, who would support Carson just to thwart you, a majority could be cobbled together to yet again nominate a pro amnesty shyster like Mr. nice guy Ben Carson, whom I think is a crafty manipulator exploiting his soft spoken, aw shucks, image of a religious man to gain the Christian vote that is a huge part of the GOP base.

Patriots beware of the too nice man. That is the image always used by con men.