Trump Soars to Biggest Lead Yet

If there was any doubt, the 2016 presidential contest appears to have its very own Teflon Don: Donald Trump, whose candidacy was launched in controversy and apparently thrives off a steady diet of it, has sailed through his Muslim ban firestorm to emerge with, well, his biggest lead to date. In the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, Trump finds himself with 38% support among GOP voters and their GOP-leaning independent brethren—up 6 points from November, and his highest percentage yet. Ted Cruz, who's seeing sharp rises elsewhere, effectively doubled his support to 15%, reports the Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Ben Carson's support went the other way—effectively cut in half—and he and Marco Rubio are tied for third at 12%. Jeb Bush clocks in at 5%, Chris Christie has 4%, and everyone else is under 2%. Trump's electability numbers also jumped, notes Politico, going from 38% last month to 47% of Americans who thought he could win the Oval Office. But this latest poll is far from indicative of what happens come next November, if history is any teacher, notes the Post: Polling at this point in recent election cycles would have given us presidents named Giuliani, Gingrich, or Clinton (Hillary led Barack Obama at this point in the 2008 contest). (Meanwhile, the big question tonight: Will anyone go after Trump?)