December 16, 2015, 02:00 pm
Poll: Trump won fifth GOP debate

By Mark Hensch

Donald Trump was the winner of Tuesday night’s fifth GOP presidential debate, a new poll says.

Thirty-five percent of registered Republicans think Trump won the contest in Las Vegas, according to a One America News Network survey released Wednesday.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) ranks second, with 25 percent, and 14 percent picked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), putting him in third place.

Nine percent thought Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) did best. Following him are retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina with 5 percent apiece, tied for fifth place.

A plurality said former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) was the debate’s loser. Twenty-six percent said Bush flopped on Tuesday night. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is next, with 19 percent, while Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) follows at 16 percent.

A plurality of respondents, about 34 percent, plan on voting for Trump after Tuesday’s debate, the poll found. Another 23 percent selected Cruz; 14 percent chose Rubio; 10 percent went with Carson; and 5 percent picked Christie.

Trump improved the public’s opinion of him with his debate showing, Wednesday’s results indicated.

About 50 percent have a more favorable view of the real estate tycoon after his performance. Another 31 percent said they felt less favorable; 19 percent reported no change.

The network polled 1,641 registered Republican voters via automated telephone calls immediately following Tuesday’s debate. It has a 2.4 percentage point margin of error.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/...ump-won-debate