Battle brewing between Ted Cruz, Donald Trump

He predicted he would not fare well in the poll, lamenting that “every time the Des Moines Register does a poll, I always do badly”.

“I think Trump’s got it right”, she said, noting she has attended two political rallies in her lifetime – both Trump events this year. “The oil companies give him a lot of money”, he said. “He’s got to be with oil”.

This is what Cruz told donors:”You look at Paris, you look at San Bernardino, it’s given a seriousness to this race, that people are looking for: Who is prepared to be a commander in chief?” However, in a new Fox News Poll, Trump is leading among South Carolina GOP primary voters with 35% compared to Cruz’s 14%.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks at a 2nd Amendment Coalition announcement at CrossRoads Shooting Sports in Johnston, Iowa, December 4, 2015.

“He’s from Texas. Lot of oil in Texas”, Trump said.

But unlike Cruz, a Texas lawmaker who is frequently seen as a Tea Party favorite, Rubio, his Florida colleague, is closer to the Republican Party’s establishment wing. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump sent two threats via Twitter to Senator Cruz on Friday morning.

Cruz was caught red-handed questioning his opponent’s “strength” and judgement” at a fundraiser this week and suggesting Trump shouldn’t have his “finger on the button’.

“We’re doing really well with the evangelicals”, Trump said. I can tell you other candidates are not exactly saying that about me.

TRUMP: He actually put out a tweet tonight. Trump maintains a dominating lead over the Republican field and his recent comments are likely to solidify or even increase that lead.

Though Cruz also said he “like(s) and respect(s)” Trump and Carson, he questioned their fitness to lead the country. Sorry to disappoint – [Trump] is terrific.

Ted Cruz is fast building support in the Republican Party’s evangelical wing, on Friday capturing an endorsement of his presidential campaign by the National Organization for Marriage, a vocal lobby which has fought against gay civil rights and same-sex marriage.

Clinton beats Cruz by a slightly wider margin in similar polls, but that could change if Cruz surges ahead in early contests and steals some of the spotlight from Trump. What is Monmouth? Explain it. I don’t like Monmouth. “I don’t know why”. “I think the whole politically correct stuff – he’s thrown it out the window, and he’s been real, and that’s what I like”. In 2004, John Edwards also completed a 17-point leap in the final poll before the Democratic caucuses, while John Kerry rose 10 points, 15% to 25%.