Ben Carson’s rapid ascension to second place in New Hampshire may be over just as quickly as it came. A new poll of Republican voters shows the retired neurosurgeon falling four percentage points and tying with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in the Granite State.
According to WBUR’s latest poll in the earliest primary state, Carson has sunk to 11 percent support and now trails front-runner Donald Trump, who leads the field with 22 percent support, by 11 percentage points. Previous polls conducted in mid-September and early November showed Carson at 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, Rubio has jumped nine points since the NPR affiliate surveyed New Hampshire Republicans in September. The freshman senator from Florida now earns 11 percent, placing him in a dead heat with Carson. Rubio and Carson also tie for second place, at 13 percent each, when voters leaning towards each candidate are factored into the overall candidates’ standings.
Carson’s climb to the top tier of Republican candidates has subjected him to increased scrutiny in recent weeks. A handful of reports questioning events and experiences Carson’s mentioned on the campaign trail and in his autobiography led the outsider candidate to hold an impromptu press conference last week, during which he claimed “there is desperation on behalf of some [in the media] to try to find a way to tarnish me.”
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Rubio, too, has been scrutinized for his spending of Republican party funds while serving in the Florida State legislature, though the senator has nonchalantly brushed off most reports on the matter. Furthermore, his powerful performances in the last two GOP primary debates, particularly while discussing national security issues, appear to have assuaged the concerns of some voter who worried about the senator’s young age and lack of experience.
In third place behind Carson and Rubio is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who earns 8 percent support among GOP voters in the Granite State. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich are slightly behind Cruz, tying for fourth place with 7 percent each. Rounding out the top five slots are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who each stand at 5 percent support.
No other candidate in the GOP field currently polls above 3 percent in New Hampshire, according to the WBUR poll.
The survey of 405 likely voters in New Hampshire’s Republican primary was conducted between Nov. 14-15. Results contain a margin of error plus or minus 4.9 percent.
