Carson takes lead over Trump in Iowa poll

UW-L’s Heim thinks more candidates will jump Trump

The tide might be swining out of Donald Trump’s favor.

A new presidential poll in Iowa shows Trump trailing Ben Carson by four points in the Republican race.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim says Trump has dominated the campaign to the point where most other candidates are being ignored, but that appears to be changing.

“As things get closer, people start paying more attention to experience and what you’re saying, what your posisitons are and start judging you more closely,” said Heim, who’s been at UW-L for over 40 yearzs. “Marco rubio, (Ted) Cruz, perhaps, and even (Jeb) Bush could have their day in the limelight. I could see one of those three moving up into the top tier at some point down the road.

“We’re not asking Carly Fiorina what’s her position on for this or that. But when you’re in the lead, people pay more attnetion to you. And the media only has so much attention to pay, and I think they’re paying more attention and the public is, too.”

Heim says it’s Carson’s turn to start being asked questions that could lower his poll numbers, and leave room for Bush or Rubio to move up.