The Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll showing Ted Cruz jumping ahead of Donald Trump in national support was "phony" and media mogul Rupert Murdoch is the reason, according to Trump and one of his advisors.
Cruz has 28% versus Trump's 26% in the poll released Wednesday, a surprising contrast to a long list of national polls giving Trump a solid lead.
Trump has battled opening with the Wall Street Journal and Fox News, both owned by Murdoch.
Dan Scavino, who runs social media for Trump, tweeted a chart of 10 recent national polls and asked "Which one is affiliated with a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch?" All but the WSJ poll put Trump in a commanding lead over Cruz.
10 RECENT NATIONAL POLLS
-- Dan Scavino (@DanScavino) February 18, 2016
Which one is affiliated with a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch? #TrumpTrain #Trump2016🚀 pic.twitter.com/AhQ5NMFiXH
Trump also tweeted about it, pointing to a new CBS poll he likes.
New CBS National Poll just out - massive lead for Trump. The Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll is a total joke. No wonder WSJ is doing so badly!
New CBS National Poll just out - massive lead for Trump. The Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll is a total joke. No wonder WSJ is doing so badly!
-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2016
.@FoxNews is changing their theme from "fair and balanced" to "unfair and unbalanced." But dying @WSJ is worse.Their phony poll is a joke!
.@FoxNews is changing their theme from "fair and balanced" to "unfair and unbalanced." But dying @WSJ is worse.Their phony poll is a joke!
-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2016
