Those who support former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz believe that the federal government is trying to take over the Lone Star State,
according to the latest poll from Public Policy Polling.
While only 32 percent of Republican primary voters said they believe that the government wants to take over Texas in light of the controversy over the Jade Helm 15 military exercises, Cruz and Perry supporters feel very strongly that the state is in the government's crosshairs:
- 76 percent of Perry supporters fear Texas takeover
- 56 percent of Cruz supporters fear Texas takeover
The Republican voters least concerned about a Texas government take over are those who support former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie:
- 18 percent of Bush supporters fear Texas takeover
- 15 percent of Christie supporters fear Texas takeover
The Public Policy Polling survey was taken May 7-10 of 685 Republican primary voters.
A Rasmussen Poll taken during the same time period as the PPP poll found that almost half of American voters believe that training exercises such as Jade Helm 15 could be used by the federal government to bring about greater control over the states. However, almost two-thirds said they still support such exercises by the military in their states.