PPP National Poll: Trump 25%; Cruz and Rubio Tied at 21%

(Cruz) “Donald Trump guaranteed a victory in Iowa and then he lost and he doesn’t like that”.

From left, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Donald Trump and Sen.

Thanks to his surprisingly strong, third-place finish in Iowa on Monday, the Florida senator is climbing in the polls and drawing sizeable crowds at his numerous campaign stops in New Hampshire.

The poll showed support for Trump at 30 percent, a substantial lead over Rubio, who came in second at 17 percent.

Christie and Bush have a “shared concern” that “has even prompted the opening of a back channel: Members of the Bush and Christie campaigns have communicated about their mutual desire to halt Mr. Rubio’s rise in the polls, according to Republican operatives familiar with the conversations”, The Times reports.

Voters will make their choice in both the Republican and Democratic races in New Hampshire on Tuesday. None of the remaining Republican candidates received more than 5% of the vote.

A new CNN-WMUR New Hampshire poll published on Thursday found Rubio netting support from 18% of GOP voters there, up seven points from before the Iowa caucuses.

A University of Massachusetts Lowell tracking poll, conducted daily, had Rubio jumping into New Hampshire’s No. 2 spot in Thursday’s release.

Trump’s charges grew increasingly more serious, alleging that Cruz had “stolen” Iowa votes.

The New Jersey Governor isn’t convinced that Rubio could take down former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the general election.

Gov. Chris Christie wants to focus on New Hampshire, himself and Sen.

We’re seeing more of Iowa’s impact, and the war of words underway here. Marco Rubio, but interviewers on Fox News this morning had far different ideas.

Rubio finished behind Cruz, the heavy favorite among Iowa’s disproportionately influential conservatives, and less than a percentage point behind the billionaire Trump in the country’s leadoff contest.

The Florida senator hasn’t been the main target in previous debates – that honor has mostly gone to Cruz and Trump – but he’s likely to have a bull’s-eye on his back tonight. After testing out the argument on the stump in New Hampshire yesterday, Trump unloaded on Twitter, accusing Cruz’s campaign of stealing the election. Jeb Bush, 8%; and John Kasich 7%.