Donald Trump has the same level of support as his three chief competitors combined, according to Reuters.
According to the Nov. 27 Reuters five day rolling average, Trump has the support of 31.0 percent of Republican primary voters. Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson places second with 14.9 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tie for third, with 8.4 percent each. In sum, the three runner-ups have combined support of 31.7 percent.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush receives support from 6.5 percent, which is the same number who “wouldn’t vote” for any of the candidates.
Trump ranks first in the Washington Examiner‘s power rankings, while Cruz, Rubio, Carson and Bush take the second through fifth positions, respectively.
To qualify for the Dec. 15 Republican debate, which will be hosted by CNN and the Salem Media Group, candidates must receive support from 3.5 percent of national Republican voters in averages of recent polls. Fortunately for candidates whose national fortunes may be looking lackluster, they can also qualify by reaching 4 percent support in either Iowa or New Hampshire. Those failing to do so will likely be relegated to an undercard debate held before the main event.
Under those requirements, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., looks to be the candidate most at risk of falling from the main stage. Paul ranks seventh in the Examiner‘s rankings.
Trump skeptics may take solace in the fact that he no longer exceeds the combined support of the entire Republican field. Thanks to a surge in support following the terrorist attacks in Paris, Trump hit a new high in Reuters polling on Nov. 22, with support from 42.9 percent of respondents.
