Mr. Trump’s growth from 20% in October came despite his wondering aloud, “How stupid are the people of Iowa” in a diatribe on Mr. Carson and Iowans’ support for him.
Though he has largely stuck to social conservative themes on the stump, Mr. Cruz was seen as the best candidate on foreign policy, with 24% of support. Mr. Trump led on which candidate can best handle the economy and terrorism, at 49% and 30%, respectively.
Mr. Cruz is scheduled to return to Iowa this weekend, where he will hold three town hall meetings and make remarks at the Christian Life Assembly of God church in Des Moines. The senator announced a prayer team last week, with the list of 200 religious leaders dominated by pastors from Iowa.
The poll of 600 likely Republican caucus goers in Iowa was conducted Nov. 16-22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
