TRUMP AND CARSON ON TOP, LORAS COLLEGE POLL FINDS

[brooklynite]

Source: Loras College

With five months to go before the 2016 Iowa Caucuses, a pair of unconventional candidates top the large Republican field. For the 502 likely Republican caucus-goers polled statewide, billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson are leading the field by a relatively wide margin. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is in a distant third place, and is the only other candidate with double-digit support as a first choice candidate.

“I have heard Donald Trump himself say that it is the ‘summer of Trump,’ and our latest poll seems to confirm that here in Iowa,” said Associate Professor of Politics and Director of the Loras College Poll, Christopher Budzisz, Ph.D. “Beyond Trump’s meteoric rise, the climb of another unconventional candidate, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, is every bit as noteworthy,” Budzisz further remarked.

“Iowa has historically been receptive to those outside the typical mold of ‘politician,’ and we may be seeing a repeat of that this year. But, time is not always kind to the summer frontrunners,” Budzisz noted.

Beyond the race for the presidential nomination, the new Loras College Poll also asked voters their opinion on the direction of the country, state of the economy, presidential job approval, as well as perceptions of the impact of elections on public policy.

“We will find out more about the staying power of Trump and Carson as the election draws nearer and the other campaigns direct energy and resources against them. Super PACs will also play a huge role in all of this, as the groups supporting other Republicans in the race saturate television, radio and internet. No doubt many of these messages will be negative. There are several more debates to come, and they could also serve as opportunities to clarify or shake up the race for voters,” said Budzisz. “Bottom line is that we are in for plenty of twists and turns until the caucuses in February.”


Candidate Preference
Results among likely Republican caucus attendees are as follows:

Candidate Support (as first choice)

Donald Trump 24.5 percent
Ben Carson 18.1 percent
Jeb Bush 10.4 percentt
Ted Cruz 6.6 percent
Scott Walker 6.2 percent
Carly Fiorina 5.2 percent
Mike Huckabee 4.4 percent
Marco Rubio 4.0 percent
John Kasich 3.2 percent
Chris Christie 2.4 percent
Rand Paul 2.2 percent
Bobby Jindal 1.4 percent
Rick Perry 1.2 percent
Rick Santorum 1.0 percent
Lindsay Graham 0.2 percent
George Pataki 0.0 percent
Undecided 7.2 percent

Read more: http://loras.edu/About-Loras/News-Events/News/2015/Trump-and-Carson-on-Top,-Loras-College-Poll-Finds.aspx

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I wonder is IQ related to voting for the Donald and Carson?

[Fred Sanders]

2. Whatever IQ it is that extremist Christian religious beliefs, Fox and RW hate speech has reduced the GOP base to?

Definitely boarding between moron and imbecile, as once were the terms used.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Scientifically people who are haters have lower IQs

if you research this in peer-reviewed journals it appears to be the case regarding racist, hater types.

[oberliner]

6. Say what you will about Ben Carson but he does not have a low IQ

He is definitely a smart guy (for a right-wing conservative).

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. look what I said

the voters have low IQs. Carson may have a high IQ.

[Fred Sanders]

9. Firmly held beliefs neutralize high IQ. The GOP is full of high IQ folks made stupid by religion.

Don't make the mistake of forgetting who these folks are pandering to...the Fox-infected very good very white folks of Iowa and NH.

No amount of logic, fact, education or evidence can change the mind infected with the religion virus.

When you are Chosen, you are Chosen. The likes of Carson, Cruz, Walker, Perry etc. would say it would be rude to deny it.

Next up will be Trump lying that he too is the Chosen one....the rubes in Iowa and NH and most of the neo-fascist GOP will believe him.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Reflects

poorly on all those professional politicians running

governors, senators, present and past

a lot of political consultants are going to be fired

[yourout]

5. I have seen this movie before...just like last election cycle everyone....

gets their moment in the sunshine only to shrivel up like a prune and eventually the establishment candidate(Bush) ends up getting the nod.

If you ask me the whole thing is rigged by the networks for ratings.

[Geronimoe]

8. I agree, it will be Jeb

Jeb V Hillary, the two establishment candidates. Some how Bernie will turn out like Dr. Dean, Perot, and Nader.

If they can't find dirt on Sanders, they'll just make something up.

[vinny9698]

11. Hillary yes, but Jeb no

Jeb is acting like he was suppose to be the next in line. With traditional GOP primary elections, the establishment had a pecking order. Jeb was to be the one this time around. But with social media, rich donor, this has weaken that tradition. Now it is everyones game.

[samsingh]

10. it would be interesting if carson won the nomination.

the racists in the gop party - and that could be a sizable number - would have to start another party.