At the beginning of 2015, Jeb Bush had grasped the top spot in GOP primary polls, but then something happened. Scott Walker delivered a strong speech at the Iowa Freedom Forum and rocketed to the top of the list. Since that time, and since CPAC, the two governors, one former and one current, have been fighting to carry the torch.
Report from the Washington Times:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have separated themselves a bit from the rest of the potential 2016 GOP field and sit in a virtual tie for the lead in a new poll.
Mr. Bush leads in the McClatchy-Marist poll with 19 percent among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, followed by Mr. Walker’s 18 percent.
Support for Mr. Walker has jumped 15 points, from 3 percent, in a December McClatchy-Marist poll, while Mr. Bush’s numbers have increased slightly from 16 percent.
Next was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 10 percent, followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 9 percent and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at 7 percent.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at 6 percent, followed by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 5 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 4 percent, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 3 percent.
Rick Santorum and Carly Fiorina split the two percent mark, followed by Lindsey Graham bringing up the rear topping out at one percent.
Walker has jumped signfigantly as Christie has continued to fall. I also think Ted Cruz has felt some burn from Walker’s rise as the two share the Tea Party backing.
