There's a New Leader of GOP Pack: Ben Carson

Lindsey Graham is probably still shaking his befuddled head after results from the latest national poll showing who's in the lead for the GOP nomination. This time it's Ben Carson on top, per a CBS News/New York Times poll, showing that the retired neurosurgeon has obviously not taken a significant hit from recent controversial comments about the Holocaust, the Oregon school shooting, and abortion. The poll, which surveyed 1,289 adults (including 1,136 registered voters and 575 voters who can vote in the GOP primary) from Oct. 21-25, shows Carson quadrupled his support since August, CBS notes, now claiming 26% of GOP primary voters to Donald Trump's 22%. Straggling behind these double-digit contenders are Marco Rubio in a faraway third place at 8%, and Jeb Bush and Carly Fiorina tied at 7% (everyone else tiptoes in at 4% or under).

Where Carson has made the most inroads in recent weeks: among women (where he's now leads Trump) and with more conservative GOPers, such as Tea Partiers, and evangelicals, where CBS says he pulled 20 points ahead of Trump. Trump is still holding his lead with moderate Republicans and people without a college degree, and CBS points out that Trump Nation is much more solid in their candidate than Carson's supporters: More than half say their minds are made up, while only 19% of Carson's supporters are ready to pull the lever. Meanwhile, a third poll out of Iowa, this time from Monmouth University, shows Carson roundly trouncing Trump with a 14-point lead: 32% to 18%, a nine-point gain for Carson and a five-point loss for Trump since late August, per the Hill. Trump, for his part, said Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe that he's curious to see how Carson holds up to new frontrunner scrutiny. (Maybe Iron Mike's endorsement will put Trump back on top.)