Carson, Fiorina Fading in GOP Power Rankings

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz stand a secure 1-2 atop the Republican field of presidential candidates according to the first "USA Today" GOP Power Rankings of 2016.

But one-time front-runner Ben Carson continues to slide in the rankings. And Carly Fiorina's momentum toward the top of the list also is now headed in the wrong direction.

USA Today's rankings are:

1. Donald Trump
2. Ted Cruz
3. Marco Rubio
4. Chris Christie
5. Jeb Bush
6. Ben Carson
7. John Kasich
8. Rand Paul
9. Carly Fiorina
10. Mike Huckabee
11. Rick Santorum
12. Jim Gilmore

When the first rankings were issues on Sept. 1, Carson was second behind Trump, with Fiorina sixth. The following week, Fiorina vaulted to third.

And after two strong debate performances, Fiorina took over the top spot in the rankings on Sept, 22 and 29 before starting her slide backwards.

On Oct. 27, Carson was No. 1 in the rankings.

But his campaign has been in freefall after a poor debate performance and questions over his grasp of foreign policy. And the disarray inside the Carson campaign was exposed when two of his top staffers quit on New Year's Eve.

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