Trump takes on Cruz, but lightly

When the results are narrowed to just those GOP caucus-goers who say they will “definitely” attend, Cruz’s advantage over Trump increases: 32 percent vs. 25 percent.

Cruz has avoided public criticism of Donald Trump, his strongest competition so far. “Because I actually get along with people much better than he does”, he said. He has done much the same with Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who has been sliding in the polls but maintains high favorability ratings.

Asked about published reports indicating Republican Party leaders have discussed how to manage the Republican National Convention next summer if delegates will be called upon to choose the party’s presidential nominee in a brokered convention, Trump said he expected to know in a month or two if the GOP establishment plans to treat him fairly in the nominating process.

Trump said his professional success proves that he has “great” judgment.

The poll follows a December 7 Monmouth University survey showing Cruz for the first time leading the field among voters who intend to take part in the February 1 Iowa caucuses, the first real measure of voter support in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Cruz’s campaign sees a massive benefit to having Trump in the race.

A separate Associated Press survey found 8-in-10 Republican voters think Trump is decisive and competent – two characteristics that matter most for them – although the Republican front-runner drew lower ratings when those same voters were asked to rate his likability, compassion and honesty.

However, Cruz has not comments back to Mr. Trump.

While Trump introduced new attacks against Cruz on Friday night, he also offered some of his usual words of praise – if in a backhanded manner.

Several attendees at Trump’s town hall event said in interviews before he spoke that they were torn between supporting Trump and Cruz, underscoring the risks each man faces going after the other too strongly. Almost a quarter (23 percent) says they couldn’t back Bush, and roughly one in 10 couldn’t back Christie, Kasich, Paul and Graham.

Cruz also defended Trump after the businessman made controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants, with Cruz calling Trump “bold” and “brash”. “And I think that is a question that is a challenging question for both of them”. No one else makes it into double-digits.

Johnson said she did not think she would vote if Trump is not on the ballot.

Earlier this week, Cruz rejected Trump’s proposal to bar most Muslims from traveling to the United States, but he did not blast it in the way other candidates did.