Trump surges to front of Republican nomination race
Donald Trump scored a 24% rating among registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters.
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Flamboyant businessman Donald Trump has surged to the lead for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, with almost twice the support of his closest rival.
The Washington Post-ABC News poll was taken just as Mr Trump ignited a new controversy after making disparaging remarks about Senator John McCain’s Vietnam War service.
Mr Trump scored a 24% rating among registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters. This is the highest percentage and biggest lead recorded by any Republican candidate.
Mr Trump’s 24% is well ahead of runner-up Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, who has 13% and onetime front-runner Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor.
Mr Trump’s rise in the poll is a sixfold increase in his support since late May, shortly before he formally joined the race.
His campaign has gained headlines through his ability to generate controversy, the first over Mexican immigrants and the second by saying Mr McCain is not a war hero as he spent it in a Vietnamese prison after the jet he was piloting was shot down.
The next seven, ranging in support from 8% to 3%, are: former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Senator Rand Paul, Senator Ted Cruz, former Texas governor Rick Perry and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
The rankings are important because only the top 10 candidates, based on an average of the most recent national polls, will qualify for the first Republican debates.
The first debate, to be held August 6 in Cleveland, will be broadcast on the Fox News Channel, which has established the rules for eligibility.The bottom six candidates in the Post-ABC News survey are Mr Kasich, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former New York governor George Pataki, former senator Rick Santorum, businesswoman Carly Fiorina and Senator Lindsey Graham. Their support ranges from 2% to less than 1%.
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Nevil Gibson
Wed, 22 Jul 2015
Wed, 22 Jul 2015
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Trump surges to front of Republican nomination race
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