Politico's periodic survey of Republican insiders in Iowa and New Hampshire finds that Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee are fading in the Hawkeye State while Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina are gaining steam.
Kristen Hayford reports for Politico that in March 20 percent of Iowa insiders said Paul would win their state and 4 percent predicted a Huckabee victory. None of the respondents named them this time. Cruz gets a mention from 13 percent and Fiorina is the choice for 7 percent.
Of course, none of that matters much as Scott Walker is the clear favorite in Iowa, as is Jeb Bush in New Hampshire.
Paul is having problems gaining financial support from wealthy donors, even fellow Kentuckians and libertarians. His dovish stance on military matters and national security issues are also costing him with party establishment.
One Iowa Republican said: "God help us if someone like him was ever to be president. His foreign policy and national security views are more frightening than any prominent Democrat, save Sen. Sanders."
As for Bernie Sanders, roughly 9 out of 10 New Hampshire and Iowa Democratic insiders tell Politico that the Vermont socialist/independent is better-positioned to gain traction as the liberal alternative to Hillary Clinton than Martin O'Malley, who announced his candidacy this morning.
The blunt-talking Sanders is attracting big crowds in Iowa and elsewhere. More than 2,400 people have signed up for his coffee-and-bagels town meeting on Sunday in Minneapolis.
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