Hillary Clinton's support drops as Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson surge in latest poll

Damaged by increased doubt about her honesty and empathy, Hillary Clinton has lost a third of her support for the Democratic presidential nomination in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, while non-politicians Donald Trump and Ben Carson have surged on the GOP side, commanding more than half the vote between them in a crowded field.

Trump is now up to 33 percent, continually gaining in the polls regardless of who attacks him. Jeb Bush, meanwhile, is down to just 8 percent.

"I think Donald Trump is an entertainer," candidate Carly Fiorina said. "And I think I am a leader."

And when Trump attacks, his poll numbers just seem to climb.

"Here's the headline, Carly is surging, she's got 3 percent," Trump said over the weekend. "I hear Ben, he's surging, but he's way behind me. I don't think Ben has the energy.

Construction is just about finished for Wednesday's second Republican debate. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, way down in the polls, denied he needs a break-out performance.

"I need to be myself, and that's what I'll do," he said. "I'll go out there on Wednesday and be myself and tell the truth as I see it, and let the chips fall where they may."

On the Democratic side, Clinton is still the frontrunner, but her support has plummeted 21 points since July. Bernie Sanders is way up, and Joe Biden, not even the race, managed to check in at 21 percent.

Clinton is now trying to salvage support among women voters. Since July, she has lost half her support in that demographic.

"Republicans often say I'm playing the gender card," she said. "Well, if supporting women's health and women's rights is playing the gender card, then deal me in."

Sanders just keeps plugging along in his unorthodox campaign. On Monday, he went to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University and lectured Christian conservatives on morality and justice.

"That there is no justice when so few have so much and so many have so little," he said.