CNN Poll: Donald Trump Maintains 20 Point Lead Over Nearest Rival

“We need a president who will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel”, declared Ted Cruz.

(My use of the weasel word “near” reflects the reality that political predictions can run afoul of unknown unknowns.) But Trump’s enduring strength among the most disheartened members of his party – and the divided loyalties of upscale Republicans – suggests that it is wishful thinking for the Republican powers-that-be to say they are sure he will never be nominated.

But while Trump still tops many Iowa polls, his rival and fellow “outsider” Dr. Ben Carson has seen a decline in recent weeks.

Donald Trump has extended his lead in the Republican presidential nomination race amid a fresh bout of controversy over his remarks about Muslims, while Hillary Clinton has consolidated her lead among Democrats, a poll showed Wednesday. Marco Rubio at 12%.

“They are looking not for a campaign conservative who talks a good game on the trail, they want a consistent conservative”, Cruz said.

Cruz, who entered and exited to a standing ovation from the crowd, promised to “utterly destroy” Islamic terrorists.

The Quinnipiac University survey finds that Mr. Trump draws 27% of Republican vote nationwide, while Sen. “And every Islamic extremist will know, if you wage jihad against us, you’re signing your death warrant”.

With less than 60 days until the Iowa caucus, Donald Trump told voters that he’s here to work for them.

So the best of the rest looks like this with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie earning 4 percent, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Carly Fiorina at 3 percent each, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 2 percent each and Kentucky Sen. “Even if you do want to be politically correct, just say, ‘If you drive it out of there, we’re going to bomb it.’ Just tell them ahead of time”.

But here’s an inconvenient truth: None of those polls can tell us, at this point, who’s likely to win the GOP nomination.

“I’m a negotiator like you folks were negotiators”, the controversial candidate declared to his audience at the Republican Jewish Coalition, as he explained that he would broker a stronger nuclear deal with Iran than the one concluded earlier this year. “When you can’t take your wife out to dinner because you are anxious about someone pointing a gun on you …” he said, trailing off. “People are scared”.

“This is a marathon, it’s not a sprint”, Carson said. Republicans and conservatives may soothe themselves with the idea that voters will eventually abandon Trump, but any attempt to explain why he’s risen in the first place would require the GOP to confront the unpleasant truth that they took an active role in creating this monster.

“We don’t stop the bad guys by taking away our guns”, Cruz said. In times of stress, in particular, many countries have turned to leaders regarded as tough and decisive – even if those same politicians were also controversial and distrusted by many. Paul generally favors limiting American influence overseas.