WMUR/CNN poll: Trump continues to lead, Fiorina now second in New Hampshire
Rubio moves to third, followed closely by Carson, Bush, Kasich
John DiStaso
WMUR
5:00 PM EDT Sep 24, 2015
DURHAM, N.H. After facing attacks in two debates and dealing with controversies almost daily, business executive Donald Trump has maintained a big lead in New Hampshire, while the rest of the Republican presidential field has been shaken up over the past two months.
A new WMUR/CNN Granite State Poll also shows that for the first time, Trump leads when likely Republican first-in-the-nation primary voters are asked who is most likely to win the primary and who has the best chance of winning the general election.
For the complete poll results, click here.
The Sept. 17-23 survey of 344 likely GOP primary voters by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center shows Trump on top with 26 percent. In second place is former business executive Carly Fiorina with 16 percent, followed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 9 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 8 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich both at 7 percent.
Drawing 5 percent each are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, while U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is at 3 percent. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore are each supported by 1 percent of those polled.
Trailing the field at less than 1 percent are former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. The poll shows 11 percent are undecided.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.3 percent.
[snip]