One in Three Republicans Back Trump

Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Sen.

(AP Photo/John Locher). Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump meets with people at a rally Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Cruz, who has plotted his race brilliantly, has made quantum leaps, seizing a 10-point lead over Trump in the latest Iowa Poll. Mr. Cruz is still far behind Trump in a national match up but is surging ahead of the billionaire businessman in most state polls. Expect there to be some debate over Trump’s controversial call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. And expect more moderate candidates like Bush, Kasich and Christie – New Jersey’s former U.S. attorney – to tout why they would offer more serious alternatives on the matter.

And look for a new top challenger to vie for attention.

Another likely change: volume. Three candidates – Chris Christie, John Kasich, and Carly Fiorina – only actually qualified for the primetime segment because of their strength in New Hampshire polls, and are clearly staking their campaigns on the Granite State.

For everyone else, the debate is a chance to stay in the conversation.

In the ensuing two months, Trump’s support has strengthened if not grown, helped by his limitless gall and by terrorist attacks that have created a greater market for his strongman appeal.

How will the field respond to the Muslim immigration plan?

Carson’s sharp fall in popularity probably means an early primary exit for him, leaving Rubio as the only candidate with any sort of concrete support base, besides Trump and Cruz. Dr. Ben Carson, who trailed Trump by just 10 points the past two months, has fallen off to a tie for third with U.S. Sen.

“I don’t think niceness is going to matter”, he said, speaking of the needs of the USA electorate. “And ultimately the decision is, who has the right judgment – experience and judgment – to serve as commander in chief?”

Cruz has had an easy ride from Trump so far, but the front-runner has started to pointedly question the freshman senator’s readiness for the Oval Office.

Trump described Cruz as “a little bit of a maniac”.

Watch for Florida Sen.

A Monmouth University national poll released yesterday shows Trump with the biggest lead yet at 41% – a 27 point lead over his closest rival Sen. Trump wants to deport 11.5 million immigrants in the country illegally.

“Oh yeah. Cruz and Rubio are both very, very knowledgeable and I have worked with them in the past”. Rubio has disavowed the massive 2013 bill he authored that passed the Senate. “So it’s Cruz’ best bet”. Christie has struggled nationally, but has put considerable time and resources in to campaigning in New Hampshire, a traditionally more independent minded state. After missing the previous debate completely, Graham and Pataki are back on the early stage.

Rubio has already questioned Cruz on foreign policy, suggesting he is guilty of an “isolationist” approach and criticizing him for voting to restrict the bulk metadata programs used by intelligence agencies – a move that leaves Cruz more exposed following the San Bernardino terror attack.