WASHINGTON — Don’t call Donald Trump the undisputed Republican front-runner anymore. As Republicans head to Colorado for their Wednesday debate, Ben Carson’s ahead nationwide, says a new CBS News/New York Times poll.
The October 21-25 survey found 26 percent of Republican primary voters were backing the retired neurosurgeon, while Trump had 22 percent. The new survey is the first major poll to show Carson overtaking the real estate mogul.
Carson had taken the lead in Iowa polls last week, while Trump continues to have big leads in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
No one else is close. In third in the national poll is Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at 8 percent. Next are Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, and former business executive Carly Fiorina, each with 7 percent. The 10 leading Republican contenders will debate for two hours, starting at 8 p.m. EDT, Wednesday.
Trump had questions Tuesday about recent polls.
“Some of these polls coming out, I don’t quite get it,” he told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” He said he was surprised in Iowa, and “The other polls, as you know, in other states are extraordinary, actually . I would have thought we were doing much better. I think we are doing much better, actually.”
He also insisted he’s not thinking of getting out. “I’m in it to the end,” Trump said.
He could be buoyed by the finding of the nationwide poll that 7 of 10 Republican primary voters said it is far too early for them to make a definite decision on a candidate.
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