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Cruz Tops Trump in Iowa After Evangelical Shift

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is now topping Donald Trump for the first time in the Republican presidential race in Iowa.

A new Iowa poll by Monmouth University shows Cruz with 24 percent of GOP support, while Trump is at 19 percent.

The report points out that evangelical voters make up about half of the Iowa GOP caucus electorate, and they overwhelmingly back Cruz, with 30 percent to Trump's 18 percent.

The poll shows evangelicals have switched from retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to Cruz since October, when Carson held 36 percent of evangelical support while Cruz held only 12 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 voters," Patrick Murray, director of the New Jersey-based Monmouth University Polling Institute, said.

Along with Carson's decline, Cruz has also picked up steam since earning the endorsement of Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

"Congressman King's endorsement may not be the primary reason for this swing, but it certainly put a stamp on the Cruz surge in Iowa," Murray said.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is also gaining traction in Iowa, now challenging Trump for second place, with 17 percent of support. Although Carson's popularity has declined, he's still in fourth place with 13 percent.

Bringing up the rear in Iowa, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush stands at 6 percent and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., at 4 percent. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich earned 3 percent each.

The Iowa Caucus is now less than two months away, on Feb. 1, 2016.

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