Marco Rubio came under scathing attack from Chris Christie during the most recent debate. | Getty Quick poll shows decline for Rubio

MANCHESTER, N.H. – An internal poll conducted on Sunday suggests that Marco Rubio’s fumbled debate performance has damaged his prospects heading into the New Hampshire primary.

The poll, conducted by the pro-John Kasich New Day for America Super PAC, shows Rubio plummeting to fourth place in the primary here, with 10 percent of the vote. Most of the polling conducted in the immediate days before the debate showed Rubio in second place.


The survey, which was based on phone calls to 500 likely voters (margin of error plus or minus 3 percent), was conducted Sunday, the day following the latest Republican debate. Rubio came under scathing attack from Chris Christie, who cast the first term Florida senator as too unready, ambitious, and superficial to occupy the Oval Office.

Donald Trump holds a wide lead in the survey, receiving 35 percent. He more than doubles runner-up Kasich, who has 15 percent. In third is Jeb Bush, with 13 percent. Behind Rubio in fifth and sixth place, respectively, are Christie and Ted Cruz. Both receive 8 percent.

The results are welcome news for Kasich and Bush, both of whom have made New Hampshire the centerpiece of the primary campaigns. Strong performances on Tuesday will give them reason to fight on to the South Carolina primary, which will be held Feb. 20.

Like Rubio, Kasich and Bush are competing for support in what has been called the establishment lane. If either or both finish ahead of him in New Hampshire, it could halt Rubio’s momentum. After his strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, the senator had begun to consolidate establishment support around him.

In a statement accompanying the results, Matt David, a chief strategist for the pro-Kasich group, said the results showed that Kasich was picking up momentum following the debate and that Rubio was losing strength.

“It's one of the most dramatic drops I have ever seen in 48 hours,” he said. “A rock doesn't do it justice."