Trump almost doubles lead in New Hampshire

And in the new Monmouth University survey, which was conducted December 3-6, Cruz won the support of 24 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers.

Cruz had no words of criticism for Trump or his proposal and went on to praise the real estate tycoon for drawing attention to the issue of border security.

Conservative US Senator Ted Cruz has surged to lead the field of Republican presidential contenders in the politically-crucial state of Iowa, a new poll showed on Monday (Dec 7). As of Tuesday afternoon, he is on the Cruz Crew.

“Every time things get worse, I do better”, Donald Trump said in Iowa over the weekend. Cruz also has the advantage in that he is despised by the GOP establishment in Washington; that’s a victor with many GOP voters. For a guy who just dared the leader of the free world to “insult me to my face”, Cruz is showing impressive restraint. I’m thrilled to have his support. The Monmouth survey primarily relied on registered voters in Iowa with a history of participating in primary elections at the state level, according to CNN.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a Republican candidate for U.S. President.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie holds third place in the new poll with 9%, followed closely by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (8%), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (7%), Texas Sen.

What do you think of Donald Trump possibly negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership in a possible Cruz administration?

That support helped keep Rubio in third place in the poll. Meanwhile, Cruz more than doubled his 12 percent of support of Iowa evangelicals in October to his current 30 percent.

Rubio and Christie tied for second with 6 percent each when voters were asked which candidate they thought was most likely to win the primary. Marco Rubio of Florida, with retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Sen.

Monmouth also had a smaller sample size – 425 compared to 552 with the CNN poll.

Trump increased six points since September, reaching 32 percent, while Rubio is up five points with 14 percent. Carson remained the most competitive with a 1-point difference between the two candidates. Results for likely Democratic caucusgoers have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 points, it is 4 points for likely Republican caucusgoers.

Cruz, considered a party outsider despite his membership in the Senate, appears to be getting a boost from the endorsement of Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King, a power broker who regularly blasts illegal immigration. But with less than two months until the Iowa caucuses, Trump has not come close to the sparring that has defined his interaction with every other Republican candidate.