Cruz Edges Past Trump in Latest Iowa Poll

With some Republicans looking for an “anti-Trump” candidate, watch for Rubio to focus fire more on Cruz than on Trump, as he tries to distinguish himself once again as the clear viable alternative to Trump in the GOP field. The truce first frayed last week, when leaked audio from a private fundraiser showed Cruz questioning whether Trump has the “judgment” to be president.

Nine republican presidential candidates will take the stage Tuesday night in Las Vegas for the final republican debate of the year. Trump said on CNN’s “State of the Union”. Behind Cruz, Florida Sen.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was four points behind Cruz at 10 percent, while Dr. Ben Carson sits at 9 percent.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in a distant 4th place at 4%, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 3%. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) each taking 2 percent.

Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz sparred with one another on social media Sunday, in a feud motivated by the Texas senator passing the businessman in latest Iowa polls.

When Republicans and Republican-leaning voters are asked who they would support for the GOP nomination for president, Donald Trump leads the pack at 41%. It was only last week that Cruz was reported to have questioned Trump’s views about banning Muslims from entering the United States.

Cruz and Rubio have been sparring from afar for weeks, particularly over national security, which is now a top campaign issue following the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

The jabs come as polls show Cruz ahead of the billionaire front runner in Iowa.

Surveying likely Iowa caucusgoers is one of the toughest challenges in election polling, as it is routinely one of the lowest turnout events in the entire presidential election process. Five polls were included in the CNN Poll of Polls in New Hampshire, with the earliest including interviews conducted November 14 and the latest running through December 8.

Concern has been growing that Republicans would suffer a landslide loss in 2016 with Trump at the head of the ticket that would pummel the party’s down-ballot candidates and, at a minimum, cost control of the Senate.

Although Cruz is a member of the U.S. Senate, he competed with Trump, Carson and businesswoman Carly Fiorina for the support of Republicans disaffected with elected officials and the political process.