Trump takes small dip in post-debate poll

Donald Trump continues to lead his Republican presidential rivals by double digits in a new national poll, though he has taken a small dip after their latest debate this week.

{mosads}Trump is supported by 36 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning voters in the Morning Consult poll taken in the two days immediately following the Tuesday night debate in Las Vegas.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is at 12 percent in the poll, followed by Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) at 11 percent, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) at 9 percent and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 7 percent.

That’s a 2-point drop each for Trump and Carson, a 1-point decline for Cruz and 1-point increase for Rubio, compared to Morning Consult polling in the days leading up to the debate, while Bush has remained steady.

Tuesday’s debate was the fifth such Republican event showcasing Trump, a celebrity billionaire turned GOP front-runner, where he faced pointed jabs from Bush, while Cruz and Rubio tussled over national security and immigration.

Candidates are vying for position atop the crowded GOP field with fewer than 50 days before votes are cast in the early-voting state of Iowa. Voters take to the polls in New Hampshire on Feb. 9 for the nation’s first primary.

The post-debate survey questioned 861 registered Republican and GOP-leaning voters. It has a margin of error of 3 points.