Unelectables Trump and Carson tied for 2nd place, Trump and Bush top "no way" list:
Neighboring-state Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin continues to hold the early lead among Iowa’s likely Republican caucus participants, but his lead is slipping as the GOP presidential field stretches to 16 candidates who have begun crisscrossing the state on a more-regular basis heading into next February’s decision.
Walker leads in the latest poll released Wednesday by independent Quinnipiac University, but six other GOP contenders are closing the gap on the Wisconsin governor’s 18 percent support among Iowans — a level that has slipped from 25 percent in a Feb. 25 poll and 21 percent in a May 6 survey.
“Iowa front-runner Scott Walker, the governor of neighboring Wisconsin, remains in front, but his support continues to drop. Meanwhile, behind Walker are a half-dozen wannabes who are fighting for second place,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Those who thought the Republican race in the Iowa caucuses might begin to clarify itself better think again,” Brown added. “As even more candidates toss their hats into the ring, the race has gotten even more muddled.”
Among the top challengers to Walker’s early lead are New York businessman Donald Trump and retired Michigan surgeon Ben Carson, each polling 10-percent support from the 666 likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers surveyed during the June 20-29 period. The Quinnipiac University poll based on live interviews via landline and cellphones had a margin of error of 3.8 percent.
Next up in the burgeoning Republican presidential field were U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky each polling 9 percent, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 8 percent, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at 7 percent, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 5 percent. No other candidate was above 4 percent and 5 percent of the surveyed Iowans were undecided, according to the poll findings.
“In that second-place gaggle is newly declared candidate and billionaire businessman Donald Trump, whose early showing — he is getting one in 10 votes — worries many party leaders. They see him as a potentially disruptive force,” Brown noted in remarks accompanying the release of Wednesday’s polling data.
“Gov. Jeb Bush’s formal announcement seems to have inched up his standing, while New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie may think making his candidacy official will help him climb out of the caucus basement,” he added, noting that Christie begins his officially announced campaign in 15th place with 1 percent Iowa support in the latest survey.
Other GOP presidential hopefuls scored as follows in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll: former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 4 percent each; business executive Carly Fiorina and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal each at 3 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 2 percent, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at 1 percent and former New York Gov. George Pataki polling less than 1 percent.
Trump and Bush topped the “no way” list, Brown noted, as 28 percent of the survey participants indicated they would not support Trump, while 24 percent gave a definite no to Bush and 18 percent to Christie on the poll’s negative list, Brown said.
http://thegazette.com/subject/news/...l-ahead-in-iowa-but-lead-is-slipping-20150701
Neighboring-state Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin continues to hold the early lead among Iowa’s likely Republican caucus participants, but his lead is slipping as the GOP presidential field stretches to 16 candidates who have begun crisscrossing the state on a more-regular basis heading into next February’s decision.
Walker leads in the latest poll released Wednesday by independent Quinnipiac University, but six other GOP contenders are closing the gap on the Wisconsin governor’s 18 percent support among Iowans — a level that has slipped from 25 percent in a Feb. 25 poll and 21 percent in a May 6 survey.
“Iowa front-runner Scott Walker, the governor of neighboring Wisconsin, remains in front, but his support continues to drop. Meanwhile, behind Walker are a half-dozen wannabes who are fighting for second place,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Those who thought the Republican race in the Iowa caucuses might begin to clarify itself better think again,” Brown added. “As even more candidates toss their hats into the ring, the race has gotten even more muddled.”
Among the top challengers to Walker’s early lead are New York businessman Donald Trump and retired Michigan surgeon Ben Carson, each polling 10-percent support from the 666 likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers surveyed during the June 20-29 period. The Quinnipiac University poll based on live interviews via landline and cellphones had a margin of error of 3.8 percent.
Next up in the burgeoning Republican presidential field were U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky each polling 9 percent, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 8 percent, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at 7 percent, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 5 percent. No other candidate was above 4 percent and 5 percent of the surveyed Iowans were undecided, according to the poll findings.
“In that second-place gaggle is newly declared candidate and billionaire businessman Donald Trump, whose early showing — he is getting one in 10 votes — worries many party leaders. They see him as a potentially disruptive force,” Brown noted in remarks accompanying the release of Wednesday’s polling data.
“Gov. Jeb Bush’s formal announcement seems to have inched up his standing, while New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie may think making his candidacy official will help him climb out of the caucus basement,” he added, noting that Christie begins his officially announced campaign in 15th place with 1 percent Iowa support in the latest survey.
Other GOP presidential hopefuls scored as follows in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll: former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 4 percent each; business executive Carly Fiorina and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal each at 3 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 2 percent, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at 1 percent and former New York Gov. George Pataki polling less than 1 percent.
Trump and Bush topped the “no way” list, Brown noted, as 28 percent of the survey participants indicated they would not support Trump, while 24 percent gave a definite no to Bush and 18 percent to Christie on the poll’s negative list, Brown said.
http://thegazette.com/subject/news/...l-ahead-in-iowa-but-lead-is-slipping-20150701
