An Investor’s Business Daily article sums up new polling information that looks good for Donald Trump.
With less than two months to go before the primary season officially begins, Donald Trump’s lead is holding steady, while support for Ben Carson has tumbled, creating a virtual three-way tie for second, according to the latest IBD/TIPP Poll.
Among Republican and Republican leaners, 27% back Trump, down a point from last month. Just 15% now back Carson, a substantial drop from last month’s 23%. Carson’s support has been driven down by attacks on his claims about his actions as a youth and his fumbling of foreign policy questions.
Carson is now statistically tied with rising contenders Marco Rubio (14%, up from 11%), and Ted Cruz (at 13%, up from 6%). Jeb Bush’s support is now at a mere 3%, tied with Carly Fiorina. The poll of 394 Republicans/leaners has a margin of error of +/- 5 percentage points.
More than half of Democrats and Democrat-leaners now back Hillary Clinton. Her 51% support is up three points from last month. Sen. Bernie Sanders holds steady at 33%, and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is now at 1%. The margin of error for the 345 Democrats polled is +/- 5.4 points.
The GOP race, however, tightens considerably when second choices are included.
The poll asked “which candidate do you lean toward as your second choice.” Ted Cruz comes out on top, with 17% saying he would be their second choice. Carson comes in second at 13%, Rubio third at 11% and Trump fourth at 10%.
When both first and second choices are added together, Trump ends up with 37%, Cruz gets 30%, Carson 29%, and Rubio 25%. Bush remains well below the top 4 at 9%.
