Trump, Carson have months to decide on third-party runs

But he’s running for president, not for Mr. Congeniality.

Last month, Cruz – who now ranks second behind Trump in the RCP Republican presidential poll index -spoke at a conference in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted by Pastor Kevin Swanson, who believes that gay people should be put to death in accordance with biblical teaching. And that’s what mattered most to Republicans surveyed in a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Trump received negative ratings from almost six in 10, and Bush was viewed unfavorably by half. That’s the worst rating of any candidate in either party, a reminder that decisiveness alone might not be enough for Trump to prevail in the 2016 election if he becomes the GOP nominee.

Trump pointed to a Center for Security Policy poll claiming that almost one in four U.S. Muslims believe violence is justified against anyone who offends Islam and that a majority wants the choice of being governed by Islamic law, which prescribes the death penalty for adulterers, apostates and gays. Although 58 percent of Republican registered voters rated him favorably, the 38 percent who gave him an unfavorable rating were among the highest for the Republican field. Fifty-five percent said “honest” describes him very or somewhat well, and 43 percent said only slightly or not at all well. The idea has been condemned by members of both parties.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal had reacted to the Republican presidential frontrunner’s proposal earlier this week that all Muslims should be temporarily barred from entering the United States. Establishment Republicans fear a Trump nomination would cause the party to lose the election and possibly seats in Congress, because he has advocated controversial positions such as rounding up and deporting millions of undocumented workers and a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll released on December 8 showed that 68 percent of Trumps supporters would vote for him if he broke from the party and ran as an independent.

The GOP’s early voting contests, which begin with the Iowa caucuses in less than eight weeks, tend to feature the party’s most passionate voters, who have been excited about Trump’s candidacy. Ted Cruz and others, have competed for a fractured party base.

Meanwhile, Ben Carson – who was ahead in the poll back in late October – has dropped 18 points to fourth place in the GOP race. Carson was viewed as most compassionate and likable, with seven in 10 Republican voters saying each word describes him at least somewhat well.

Nine in 10 say decisiveness and competence are extremely or very important, according to the poll.