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CNN/ORC poll released Sunday showed Donald Trump in first place in the wide Republican field, but a deeper look at the survey offers a look at the issues driving his popularity.
Among Republicans in the CNN poll, Trump leads with 18 percent support, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush with 15 percent. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has 10 percent support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who are registered to vote.
According to CNN, Trump's support is based largely on a widespread dissatisfaction with Washington politics, while being boosted by his strong stance on illegal immigration.
The poll found that just 30 percent of registered voters say they feel their views are being represented by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, compared to 40 percent who say Washington does not represent their views at all.
The figures are even higher among Republicans: 53 percent say their views are not well represented by Washington. Democrats are not nearly as disgruntled — 27 percent say their views are not well-represented.
CNN found that those who say their views are not represented in Washington are most likely to support Trump over all the other candidates in the field. Specifically, among this group, Trump has a lead of 24 percent support, compared to 13 percent for Jeb Bush while other candidates are at 8 percent or less.
Disaffected voters are also slightly more likely to say that a candidate's position on illegal immigration will determine whom they will vote for, though the economy is considered most important by more than four in 10 voters, CNN reported.
Those who are unhappy with Washington politics are more likely to be looking for a candidate who is not a politician and who is calling for change in politics as usual. On that score, Trump is rated highly, CNN said.
Among Republicans who say it's extremely important that the next president stand up for his or her beliefs even in the face of criticism, Trump has a solid lead with 25 percent support compared to 11 percent for Bush and 10 percent for Walker.
The poll also found, however, that most Americans are at odds with Trump's stance on immigration, even as he finds favor on that issue with Republicans. Fifty-six percent of Americans say that U.S. policies on immigration should focus on developing a plan that would enable immigrants to find jobs and legal residency, compared to 42 percent whose priority is to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and deport those already here.
There is also a dramatic partisan divide in views on immigration. Seventy-two percent of registered Democrats want the country's immigration policies to focus on allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents. Just 38 percent of Republicans share that view.
Nevertheless, the issue of illegal immigration does not register as the most important issue for Republicans, with just 11 percent saying it will be key to their decision about who they will support. The economy is by far the top issue, with 44 percent saying it will be their foremost consideration when choosing a candidate.
Democrats also consider the economy their top issue at 45 percent, CNN reported.
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