Donald Trump's dominance in the national polls will likely decline in the wake of the second Republican presidential candidates' debate Wednesday night, pollster John Zogby tells
Newsmax TV.
In a post-debate interview with hosts Ed Berliner and J.D. Hayworth, the polling analyst declared Trump "begins the process of losing points tonight."
Story continues below video.
Watch Newsmax TV on
DirecTV Ch. 349,
DISH Ch. 223 and
Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system —
Click Here Now
"He was a big loser in the debate tonight," Zogby said. "Look for him to go down."
"The summer flirtation is over," Zogby added. "By mid-September, after two and half months on top, you got to start getting specific and you can't continue to obfuscate, to counterpunch, to name-call and then to treat that as running for president. This has been pure entertainment on Donald's part, and when it comes to getting specific, he can't even name any of his advisers yet."
Zogby said the "big winner" of the debate was Carly Fiorina.
"That's almost universal now — it certainly was for me," he said. "She was strong, she was forceful, she was clear, experienced and all of that. She gets a big bump."
He also praised Ohio Gov. John Kasich, saying he "did fine" and "stayed on message."
But besides Trump, Zogby also panned Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's performance.
"Jeb Bush, even though more forceful, even funny at moments — got a big applause line defending his brother — I just don't see him making a move — yet anyway."
Zogby's reference was Bush's defense of his brother, former President George W. Bush, against criticism from Trump, saying "he kept us safe."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.