Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump officials to announce closure of Palestinian Liberation Organization office in DC: report Alibaba's Jack Ma to step down as chairman in 2019 Trump expected to soon declassify Carter Page, Bruce Ohr documents: report MORE holds a big lead over other Republicans in a new poll of South Carolina voters.
He has 35 percent support, while Sens. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzFormer Cruz spokesman: 'It's possible' O'Rourke could win Texas lieutenant governor urged for Trump visit to bolster Cruz: report Cruz: Dems want Texas to be like California with its 'tofu and silicon and dyed hair' MORE (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioGOP turns its fire on Google Bringing literacy to the world A path forward on paid family leave MORE (R-Fla.) are tied for second with 18 percent apiece.
Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) ranks fourth at 10 percent, followed by former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson deadlocking at 7 percent each.
The poll was taken Feb. 14–15, after Saturday night's GOP debate. Trump atacked former President George W. Bush's record on terrorism and the war on Iraq in that debate, arguing he failed to keep the country safe. It provoked a fiery confrontation with the former president's brother.
Many wondered if the attacks by Trump, which prompted boos by the South Carolina crowd, would cut into his popularity in the state.
This new poll, at least, suggests that it did not.
PPP's survey of 897 likely GOP primary voters has a 3.3 percent margin of error.
Trump’s support in the Palmetto State is up since the firm’s last sampling in November, when he lead the field with 25 percent.
Carson took 21 percent in that survey, followed by Cruz at 15 percent, Rubio at 13 percent and Bush at 8 percent.
Trump also remains the leader for the Republican presidential nomination nationwide. He commands an 8-percent edge over the competition, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls.
