Fiorina spikes, Trump slumps in post-debate poll

Donald Trump said he would not use the word “panic” to describe the possibility of a future drop in the polls, a day after a new CNN/ORC national poll showed former Hewlett-Packard executive Carly Fiorina cutting into his advantage among Republican voters.

The survey, conducted in the three days after 23 million people tuned in to Wednesday night’s GOP debate on CNN, shows that Trump is still the party’s front-runner with 24% support.

The survey has Trump declining from the 32 percent he received in a similar poll taken earlier this month. Like Rubio, she was at 3 percent less than two weeks ago. Maryland pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson is second with 14 percent.

Fiorina emerged as the standout candidate from the debate, seizing her best moments at Trump’s expense, most notably when she tweaked Trump over his disparaging comments about her looks, which he suggested in a Rolling Stone magazine article make her unelectable.

“There’s a sophomoric quality that’s entertaining about Mr. Trump”, Paul said, noting that Trump’s “visceral response” was to attack people for their appearance, as he had done recently to rival Carly Fiorina. At the beginning of the debate, as the candidates stood in front of Ronald Reagan’s Air Force One, he reminded the audience that he had once flown on that plane with the iconic GOP president. Jeb Bush is fourth, with 8 percent support, followed by Sen.

That was in reference to Kasich going out of his way on one of his first chances to speak to jump down the throat of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee both polling at 6 percent. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at 1%. Carson has gained steadily in NBC polls, registering 7 percent in April, 8 percent in July, and 10 percent in August. That puts Walker in the same category as former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, Sen.

Walker’s collapse is especially stark.

Fifty-nine percent said they are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Bush – 9% 6. He even edges Rubio, 22 percent to 17 percent, on who could best handle foreign policy.

Fiorina was elevated to the main debating event after her breakout performance in last month’s “undercard” event held for candidates who are trailing in the polls. Marco Rubio polled at 11 percent.

The top three finishers in the new CNN poll – Trump, Fiorina, and Carson – reflect anti-establishment politics that have dominated the Republican presidential race.