Debate: All of the Republican presidential candidates participated in the CNN/Salem Broadcasting debate from the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The performances were more of the same, with most of the attention being focused on Donald Trump, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), and ex-Florida Governor Jeb Bush. The debate again drew a huge audience, an estimated 18 million viewers, which continues to set records for primary debate events. The largest viewership, an amazing 24 million, occurred for the first debate held in August.
Polls: Several polls were released during the week, but three stood apart. The Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald New Hampshire poll (12/13-17; 430 NH Republicans and eligible Independent voters who can choose to vote in the Republican primary) finds Donald Trump again leading the field with 26%. But, only four percentage points separates the next five candidates, the closest bunching we have yet seen. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are second with 12% apiece; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has 11%; Jeb Bush posts 10%, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich follows with 8% support.
In Florida, St. Pete Polls (12/14-15; 2,694 FL Republican voters who have previously participated in a Republican primary) conducted an automated response survey and found Mr. Trump again leading both Sen. Rubio and former Gov. Bush in their home state. This poll posts Trump with 36%, Sen. Cruz at 22%, Rubio third registering 17%, and Mr. Bush at only 9 percent.
Turning to the first voting state, Iowa on February 1st, Public Policy Polling (12/10-13; 520 likely Republican Caucus attenders) also posts Trump in first place, but only three percentage points ahead of Sen. Cruz (28-25%). Sen. Rubio again places third at 14%, followed by the reeling Dr. Ben Carson who drops to 10%, and Bush badly trails with 7 percent.
Again we see the separation from the pack, but such parting now may be limited to three candidates: Trump, Cruz, and Rubio. Dr. Carson appears to be falling back among the also-ran contenders in all late polling.
AAN Staff
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