Fox News Republican Debate: Who Is In and Where Do They Stand?

Trump’s antics have boosted him so far ahead of the Republican hopefuls, that none of the contenders has a chance of gaining that ground.

With 20 percent support among voters, Trump now leads the pack, jumping 15 percentage points from Quinnipiac’s May poll.

A few of the candidates are even learning from Trump, they’re getting bolder, and not backing down when confronted about it. Between them, but closer to Bush, is Scott Walker, who garners 13 percent. Jeb Bush (Fla.) and Rick Perry (Texas), in addition to Christie and Trump.

Two years after Priebus delivered his election post-mortem saying Republicans had to overcome the perception of being a racially-intolerant party beholden to the rich, the host argued, Trump – “the living embodiment of everything Republicans were trying to exorcise from their party just escalated down on their parade” – has bounded his way to a commanding lead in early GOP polls. In the Rasmussen poll Trump came in with 26%.

Some wealthy Republican donors have made it clear that they don’t like Trump’s strong showing in the polls, with recent reports conveying their disapproval of their fellow billionaire. Something similar occurred in 1992, when businessman Ross Perot’s independent candidacy helped thwart President George H.W. Bush’s reelection bid and allowed Bill Clinton to capture the presidency with just a 43 percent plurality.

His challenge was underscored Thursday when a Quinnipiac University poll found Christie slipped to tenth place nationally, his lowest showing since the group began polling for the 2016 presidential primary. He believes in limits to abortion and that marriage should be defined by state laws. Trump has the highest unfavorability rating at 59 percent. And for every step the Democrats take to the left, the Republicans take three steps to the right. A one-time tax on wealthy Americans is unlikely to be popular among many wealthy GOP supporters. Shockingly, the poll suggested a huge boost for Trump despite his latest. Reuters.com quotes Feehery.

Even for the candidates who do make the cut, the preoccupation with building national support could put them at a disadvantage.

Democrats have been planning on the ascent of Hillary Clinton pretty much from the time of her loss to Barack Obama in 2008, and now they are stuck with her. And that includes all her scandal baggage and lack of any significant achievements that would qualify her for the office.

But the guy is full of surprises.

Kasich has been climbing in the polls since he announced that he was running for president on July 21, although he could easily fall back.