The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that Donald Trump has leapt to the lead among the GOP line-up. The first debate among primary GOP contenders is coming up later this week. Trump holds the first position with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in second place and former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush in third place.
Writes NBC News, "Trump is the first choice of 19 percent of GOP primary voters, while 15 percent back Walker and 14 percent back Bush. Ten percent support retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson."
The rest of the line up is in single digit territory. Texas Senator Ted Cruz garners 9% of the vote; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul are tied with 6% of the vote; Florida Senator Marco Rubio registers with 5% and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Ohio Governor John Kasich each have 3%; and bringing up the rear are Louisiana Bobby Jindal, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum,each with 1% of the primary vote. The other candidates register under 1% each.
The first primary GOP debate on Thursday will only include the top 10 candidates. NBC estimates those ten will be:
- Trump - 19.8 percent
- Walker - 13.2 percent
- Bush - 13 percent
- Paul - 6.4 percent
- Carson - 6.4 percent
- Rubio - 6.2 percent
- Huckabee - 5.8 percent
- Cruz - 5.8 percent
- Christie - 3.2 percent
- Kasich - 3.2 percent
Trump's ascension to the head of the pack comes at the expense of both Jeb Bush, who has dropped from 22% last month to 14% this month, along with Scott Walker who saw a 2% drop. Marco Rubio also saw a hit to his support, with a fall from 14% down to 5%.
A plurality of Tea Party voters support Ted Cruz, with 22% saying they support the Texas Senator, 20% supporting Trump, and 20% supporting Walker.
The NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll was conducted July 26-30, 2015. The margin of error for 252 interviews among Republican Primary Voters is ±6.17%
