Ted Cruz takes lead in Iowa

A new MSNBC/Telemundo/Marist poll shows that 58 percent of adults say that Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is hurting the GOP’s reputation, compared to just 24 percent who say he is helping its image.

Monmouth poll director Patrick Murray attributed Cruz’s rise to Carson’s fall in the early nominating state, but also noted that Iowa Rep. Steve King’s endorsement likely had an impact.

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton wins hypothetical matchups against every 2016 Republican White House hopeful, according to a new poll.

Pollsters say the Cruz surge is at the expense of Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who led the field in Iowa just two months ago with 32%.

Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump was the second choice of Iowa Republicans with 19 per cent support, followed by Marco Rubio (17 per cent); Ben Carson, (13 per cent); Jeb Bush, (six per cent); Rand Paul (four per cent) and Carly Fiorina and John Kasich each with three per cent. It has a 2 percent margin of error.

Both Cruz and Carson will court voters at the last big cattle-call scheduled in Iowa before the February 1 caucuses – an event hosted by theconservative group FreedomWorks.

Evangelical voters, a major force in the Iowa GOP caucuses, have shifted away from Carson and toward Cruz, the poll shows. Another 49% say they have a strong preference, and the rest are either undecided or only have a slight preference.