Cruz pulls nearly even with Trump in Iowa, poll finds

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Cruz pulls nearly even with Trump in Iowa poll, Carson sinks

Fox News digital politics editor Chris Stirewalt breaks down the numbers on 'America's Newsroom'

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has pulled nearly even with Donald Trump in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll of likely Republican caucus-goers.

The survey also finds retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson sliding dramatically as Cruz rises in the Hawkeye State.

Trump tops the poll with 25 percent support, followed closely by Cruz at 23 percent.

Behind them are Carson and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, polling at 18 and 13 percent respectively.

Cruz’s numbers are up significantly from Quinnipiac’s Oct. 22 poll that showed Cruz at just 10 percent in Iowa. In that poll, Carson led the pack with 28 percent, followed by Trump at 20 percent.

“Last month, we said it was Dr. Ben Carson’s turn in the spotlight.  Today, the spotlight turns to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement.

Lower down the rankings, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul got 5 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush got 4 percent, and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina got 3 percent.

The poll also found that Iowa likely Republican caucus participants overwhelmingly oppose allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. by 81-15 percent.

The poll of 600 likely GOP caucus-goers was taken from Nov. 16-22 and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.