Cruz captures GOP presidential lead in Iowa

Ted Cruz now leads Republican presidential candidates in Iowa, according to a new poll that puts Donald Trump in second place.

Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, has been on the rise recently. And the new survey, which was conducted last week, Cruz won the support of 24 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers. Nineteen percent backed Trump, while Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, was in third place, with 17 percent.

'This marks the first time Ted Cruz has held a lead in any of the crucial early states. As Ben Carson's stock has fallen, Cruz has been able to corral most of those votes,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, at 13 percent, is fourth in the poll of 425 Iowans. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. Subsamples had larger margins of error.

All other candidates after Carson were in single digits. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had 6 percent, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, was at 4 percent.

The West Long Branch, N.J.-based poll last had surveyed Iowa Republicans in late October. At that time, Carson was leading easily, with Trump in second and Cruz tied for third at 10 percent.

However, Carson since has faced criticism on foreign policy issues.

Cruz won the endorsement of Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, last month. And while the vast majority of respondents, 73 percent, said it made no difference to them, 19 percent said the endorsement made them at least a little more likely to back Cruz.

Since late October, Cruz gained 14 points, the poll said. Carson has dropped 19 points. Rubio gained seven points and Trump remained about the same, the poll said.

Evangelical Christian voters, who made up half the poll's sample, backed Cruz over Trump by a 30 to 18 margin. Rubio was next at 16 percent, followed by Carson at 15 percent. In October, the poll said, 36 percent of Iowa evangelicals backed Carson.

Meanwhile, the new poll said men preferred Cruz (29 percent) and Trump (24 percent) over Rubio and Carson, both at 12 percent. Women backed Rubio (23 percent) and Cruz (19 percent), followed by Carson and Trump at 15 percent and 14 percent.

The poll did indicate that the vast majority of the respondents were open to changing their minds. Only 20 percent said they were completely decided on their choice.