This is not a BREAKING story but the continuation of a trend that has yet to be even slightly acknowledged by the media on either side of the political spectrum.
The sensible, rational Republican
West Long Branch, NJ –The Monmouth University Pollof likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers finds Ben Carson and Donald Trump tied for the top spot. This marks the first time since July 26 that a poll in any of the first four nominating states has not shown Trump with a nominal lead.
Just as it took The Donald posting ridiculous leads for over a month to get pundits to concede that he IS the face of the Republican Party, talking heads have barely mentioned the fact that The Black Republican Candidate, Ben Carson, has steadily held as the persistent #2 throughout that time. While Jeb! the Inevitable has suffered a dizzying collapse into Rand Paul polling territory and Scott Walker has seen his Iowa dominance turn into a current 5th place 7% Iowa turtle, Carson has leapt to a 23% tie with Trump.
The neurosurgeon turned Tea Party darlin' Carson has sucked up all of the oxygen Trump didn't get to in this Iowa Poll. Clearly the busload of professional asshats the RNC was touting all summer as a super-duper deep bench is making the typical GOP voter reach deeper for amateurs. Hint: When your base can't find an acceptable option from your entire professional bench, your bench must have in fact, REALLY SUCKED.
And Carson has room to move:
Among those who say they only have a slight preference or are up in the air, 25% support Carson and 16% back Trump.
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Iowa Republicans now hold an almost universally positive opinion of Ben Carson at 81% favorable to just 6% unfavorable.
Carson is as bat-hit crazy as the rest of these Tea Party loons but he has a quiet demeanor that is clearly pulling in those Republicans who want Anyone But Trump. Personally I think he would be a much tougher candidate to go up against in a general election because of the obvious optics. He would let the party of the mean, the cheap and the stupid greenwash their message of distain for ordinary Americans. Unlike Herman Cain before him, he isn't a con man pulling off performance art... that would be Trump. No, Carson is just wrong. Lots of smart people are wrong everyday. The deeper question is whether a significant portion of conservative voters could vote for him based on those same optics.
Very interesting indeed.