With Ben Carson still on his tail, Donald Trump nonetheless holds his lead in Iowa, while opening up commanding leads in New Hampshire and South Carolina. According to a new poll out from CBS News/YouGov, Trump leads Carson 40-12 in New Hampshire, 36-21 in South Carolina, and 29-25 in Iowa.
Ted Cruz comes in third in Iowa and South Carolina with 10 and 6 percent, and John Kasich comes third in New Hampshire with 9 percent of the vote, in a poll of likely Republican primary votes.
In perhaps a telling sign of why Trump, who leads the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, and Carson are doing so well, when asked what’s most important in a candidate, voters most frequently responded that it was “their experience getting things done in business and the private sector.” This answer registered 36 percent, 39 percent, and 38 percent support in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, respectively.
Further, it outpaced answers such as “they are a true conservative” and “their experience getting things done in policy and politics.” It also ranked higher than “they can defeat the Democratic nominee.”
Candidates considered thoroughbreds before the primary season continue to languish in this new poll. Rand Paul registers 6 percent in New Hampshire, tied with Jeb Bush.
Marco Rubio is currently fourth in Iowa at 6 percent, and Scott Walker continues his tumble, losing front-runner status in Iowa, the lynch-pin of his campaign, and registering 3 percent support in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
