Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio are up and Rand Paul and Chris Christie are down, according to the latest Hotline Republican presidential power rankings.
The three top contenders, Hotline notes, are doing well “in part because they're that good, and in part because the competition has been so bad.”
Bush, the former Florida governor, is in the top spot largely because of his fundraising ability. Walker, the Wisconsin governor, has been hot since his January 24 speech wowed activists at the Iowa Freedom Summit and is now in second place. Walker’s political action committee last week opened an Iowa office.
“The Wisconsin governor now has a target on his back – and his opponents have an entire year to take their shots,” the analysis warned.
Number three is Rubio, down a notch from last month, largely because of the Walker rise.
Paul, a U.S. senator from Kentucky, has had a tough few weeks. “He shushed a female anchor on CNBC, twisted himself in knots trying to talk about freedom and vaccinations, and flopped at the Koch brothers summit, where he showed up for a presidential job interview in blue jeans,” Hotline noted. “Still, Paul is continuing to build a truly elite national campaign team.”
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry are next, and Christie, the New Jersey governor, is down to seventh in the rankings. Among his problems: A sinking approval rating in his home state.
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