In the survey of 574 likely Iowa Republican caucus participants,
28 percent said they would support Carson, a former physician,
compared with 20 percent who said they backed Trump, a wealthy
businessman and television personality.
Carson's lead, stemming in part from a big boost among women, falls
within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage
points. Trump had led Carson in the Midwestern state last month, 27
percent to 21 percent.
"It's Ben Carson's turn in the spotlight," Peter Brown, assistant
director of Quinnipiac University's polling unit, said in a
statement.
Iowa's caucus, scheduled for February, is a key barometer in the
race for both Republicans and Democrats seeking their party's
nomination for the November 2016 presidential election. Still, a win
there is no guarantee and past winners have fizzled, but it can
influence fundraising, political momentum and media coverage.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Oct/23/images/ads/current/stacy_sda_121014.png) Republican voters have been drawn to Carson and Trump, both
political neophytes who have pledged to upend business as usual in
Washington.
Trump has been leading most national public opinion polls in recent
weeks, with Carson steadily gaining. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed
Trump with nearly 33 percent support among self-declared Republicans
as of Oct. 20, and Carson with about 16 percent. Former Florida
Governor Jeb Bush came in third with 10 percent.
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In Quinnipiac's Iowa survey taken Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, Senator Marco
Rubio of Florida came in third with 13 percent and Senator Ted Cruz
of Texas fourth with 10 percent. Bush came in tied for sixth place
with former business executive Carly Fiorina with 5 percent,
trailing Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Among women who were likely to participate in the caucus, 33 percent
backed Carson while just 13 percent supported Trump, who has come
under fire for some of his comments toward women, including digs at
Fiorina and Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.
Carson also earned twice as much support as Trump from Iowa's white,
evangelical Christian community, the poll showed.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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