Branding him a "menace to American conservatism," the National Review is strongly urging all Republican voters not to support current party front-runner Donald Trump.

While praising Trump's skill as a campaigner in an overall blistering editorial, the Review went on to mock the candidate's crude approach to most matters and maintained he would trample on the good work of generations of true conservatives in the name of populism.

The magazine also crucified Trump for what it contended was his habit of wobbling back and forth on critical issues as the political moment demanded. The piece noted that, at one time or another, Trump has supported abortion, gun control, single-payer health care and punitive taxes on the affluent, all stances traditionally associated with Democratic candidates.

On the issue of immigration, the magazine hinted Trump's promise to deport up to 11 million immigrants in less than two years was ludicrous, if for no other reason than such a task is beyond the might of the federal government.

Not surprisingly, Politico reports Trump came back swinging, assailing the magazine's leadership and questioning its overall quality in a series of equally fiery tweets.

Trump seemed to have the support of the Republican National Committee, which has disinvited the National Review from taking part as a sponsor in an upcoming GOP presidential debate.

But, the way National Review publisher Jack Fowler saw it, that was a small price to pay to get the word out about Trump.

"We expected this was coming," he said. "Small price to pay for speaking the truth about The Donald."

According to CNN, in the latest CNN/ORC poll Trump led Ted Cruz in the critical, early voting state of Iowa 37 to 26 percent, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio following at 14 percent.

When pollers asked respondents which candidate best represented Republican values, Cruz led at 29 percent and Trump followed closely behind at 28 percent.

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