More than half of Republican voters nationwide support Donald Trump's bid for the GOP presidential nomination, according to a new
Economist/YouGov poll, and Marco Rubio seems most damaged following two weeks of attacks.
In the Internet poll of 2000 people surveyed, through a random sample conducted March 10-12:
- Trump, 53 percent;
- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, 22 percent;
- Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 11 percent;
- Rubio, 10 percent.
The poll marked the first for Trump to gain a majority from voters. In February, the poll marked his previous high, at 44 percent.
Rubio's numbers took a hit after Ben Carson left the race, the new poll reveals.
In February, Rubio and Cruz were still battling for second place behind Trump, but this week, Kasich and Rubio are virtually tied for last place.
Further, Rubio trails both Cruz and Kasich when voters were asked to make a second choice, and 19 percent said they would be enthusiastic if Rubio won the nomination, but half feel that way about Trump.
The poll was conducted before the protests that closed Trump's rally in Chicago and the numbers of protests and arrests at his rallies in Dayton, Ohio and Kansas City, Missouri.
The poll showed that Kasich's ratings took a climb, including that he's favorably regarded while Trump has a 61 percent negative approval rating.
Plus, Kasich also scores higher than Trump among registered Democrats.
Republicans also said Trump is the most likely to win in November against the eventual Democratic nominee:
- Trump: 58 percent;
- Cruz 45 percent;
- Rubio, 31 percent;
- Kasich, 30 percent.
Voters also sad they believe Trump is most ready to be commander-in chief, at 30 percent; dealing with the economy, at 33 percent; and says what he thinks people want to hear, at 43 percent.
However, Kasich was deemed the most honest and trustworthy, at 37 percent, compared with 27 percent of Trump, 25 percent for Cruz, and Rubio, at 26 percent.
But despite Trump's lead, 46 percent of those surveyed said they are not sure Republicans will have a nominee before the GOP convention.