What ceiling? Trump hits 53 per cent in latest poll of Republican primary voters and is the most-liked Republican left in the field
Donald Trump has a majority of support from Republican primary voters for the first time
He’s also scoring higher than his three remaining rivals in the ‘favorability’ category
Most in the GOP believe the Republican Party’s elites should back Trump if he’s the nominee
By David Martosko, Us Political Editor
Dailymail.com
15 March 2016
Donald Trump has rocketed to a new high in a poll of likely Republican primary voters, scoring a clear majority at the national level for the first time.
A poll from The Economist and YouGov found the billionaire front-runner has the support of 53 per cent of the GOP’s voting electorate, up nine points in the last three weeks.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is in a distant second place nationally with 22 per cent. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio have 11 and 10 per cent, respectively.
The astonishing numbers indicate that Trump no longer has a ‘ceiling’ of support that’s too low for him to win over most Republican voters.
They also suggest a major enthusiasm gap between Trump and his Republican rivals.
Among all Republicans, Trump scores just 32 per cent. The next highest categery is self-identified GOPers who have ‘no preference.’
But when the numbers are limited to only those Republicans who have voted in primary elections – or plan to – the billionaire front-runner opens up a colossal lead.
Much of Trump’s bump in the YouGov poll came from Dr. Ben Carson’s exit from the race, as the former candidate’s supporters flocked to The Donald. Carson endorsed Trump on Friday.
Trump has also edged past Kasich in the all-important favorability category, with 66 per cent of likely GOP primary voters saying the have a positive impression of him.
That compares with 63 per cent for the more restrained and pleasant-talking Ohio governor.
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