Bush the New GOP "Frontrunner"...LOL!

from CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Jeb Bush is the clear Republican presidential frontrunner, surging to the front of the potential GOP pack following his announcement that he's "actively exploring" a bid, a new CNN/ORC poll found.

He takes nearly one-quarter — 23% — of Republicans surveyed in the new nationwide poll, putting him 10 points ahead of his closest competitor, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who tallied 13%.

RELATED: Read the entire CNN/ORC poll here

Physician Ben Carson comes in third, with 7% support, and Sen. Rand Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are both tied for fourth with 6%.

That marks a drop in support for all but Christie and Bush from the last CNN/ORC survey of the field, conducted in November. That poll showed Bush in the lead, but only taking 14% of the vote, while Carson came in second with 11% and Christie tied Rep. Paul Ryan for fourth with 9% support.

Bush's 10-point lead is a milestone for the potential GOP field — it marks the first time any prospective candidate has reached a lead beyond a poll's margin of error in the past two years.

Hmmm, seems they forgot the last poll CNN/ORC took. That poll had Romney leading the pack... and now Romney's NOT part of this new poll.

Talk about MANIPULATING the news/polls. Is it news to ANYONE that Republican diehards would support Bush in the absence of Romney as a candidate? And is it any wonder that this poll is being HYPED by every newspaper in the world this week? Romney polled 20% in the first poll, and Bush 9%. That Bush only went to 23% instead of up to 29% (Bush's original 9% + Romney's 20%) when Romney was removed from the poll is an indicator of Bush's real WEAKNESS as a GOP candidate, as 6% of Romney supporters (of the 20%) DEFECTED from Bush for other candidates.