According to poll released this morning by the New York Times Dr. Ben Carson has taken a narrow lead nationally in the Republican presidential campaign, dislodging Donald J. Trump from the top spot for the first time in months. The poll was conducted by the New York Times with CBS News and the survey released in this morning’s edition of the newspaper.
This is the first that Trump has not led all candidates since in a major national poll since The Times and CBS News began measuring presidential preferences at the end of July.
Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, is the choice of 26 percent of Republican primary voters, with Trump a very close second with 22 percent of the vote. Clearly the poll has the two well within the margin of sampling error.
No other candidate comes close to the duo of Carson and Trump as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida received 8 percent while former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive, are each the choice of 7 percent of Republican primary voters.
If you include Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the non-establishment candidates earn 59% of support from Republican primary supporters.
There is some good news for Trump is his support is firmer than Carson’s and he has a commanding lead in all other of the recent polls. Inside the numbers show that 55 percent of Trump supporters said he is their guy to the bitter end, compared to just 20% for Carson.
Carson’s national surge (at least in this poll) into first place coincides with what can only be described as a commanding lead in Iowa. According to the Real Clear Politics poll of polls, Carson beats Trump by 9 percent in the caucus state.
Again it should be noted that Iowa is the only state at the moment where Trump trails Carson.
This should set a very interesting debate tomorrow night 8 pm on CNBC with the focus on the economy, but it is fair to consider that other issues will be discussed. The debate will be held at the University of Colorado in Boulder with another full house on hand.
The lineup for the primetime debate is Trump, Carson, Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Hewlett Packard Chief Executive Carly Fiorina, Sen. Ted Cruz, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Rand Paul.
Given the new Trump and Carson feud look for another cable TV ratings record with CNBC getting the win this time.
