Donald Trump goes after Ted Cruz in Iowa

US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas surged to a 10-point lead in a new poll released Saturday of likely Republican caucusgoers in Iowa, a sign his campaign is gathering momentum and suggesting a long nominating fight is ahead.

As reported by NBC News and other outlets, the Texas Senator has gained a windfall of new support, achieving a double-digit lead over Trump, according to a Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll. About 49% believe Trump “knows the most about how to get things done”, while only 22% say that of Cruz. Bush sits at 6%, up 1 point.

Since the last time the Des Moines Register and Bloomberg polled in the state, in October, Trump’s actually gone up two points. The candidate has managed to maintain and even increase his backing among Republican voters despite controversial statements, including his suggestion early this week that Muslims be barred from entering the United States.

The poll of 404 Iowa Republicans came out late Saturday afternoon with the results capping off what has been weeks of steady momentum for Cruz.

The polling firm, Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, is considered one of the best at predicting the state, which is notoriously hard to poll accurately.

“If we win Iowa, I think we run the table”, Mr. Trump said on Friday at a rally in Des Moines.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Trump has led most polls there, but one poll from Monmouth University this week showed Cruz with a small lead.

But he scores poorly on temperament to be president, ability to work effectively with Congress, and on values.

“I always expected that Cruz would do well in Iowa”. Cruz is the favored candidate of both Tea Party members and evangelical conservatives, a major force in Iowa, the poll found.

Trump, after first offering praise for Cruz, fired back on Friday night – although in a gentler manner than his past attacks on other GOP rivals. And Cruz has sky-high image numbers.

Trump went for Cruz’s family background.

Christian conservative voters traditionally wield significant influence in the Iowa caucuses because they tend to be organized and motivated to participate.

But Trump, now that his political soulmate poses a threat, had no such qualms. While Trump faced a torrent of backlash from his fellow Republicans in the wake of his incendiary comments, it is not clear if there is a correlation between Cruz’s subsequent rise and Trump’s anti-Islam rhetoric.

But for the next 50 days, Cruz and Trump appear to be barreling toward a tough fight for first place in the Hawkeye State.