Donald Trump holds a national lead over Ted Cruz and John Kasich among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters in a
new national poll, which also reveals that nearly two-thirds of Trump's supporters believe that the nation needs a leader who is willing to break some rules.
According to the survey, conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with The Atlantic from March 30 to April 3:
- Trump: 37 percent;
- Cruz, 31 percent;
- Kasich, 23 percent;
And among voters wanting someone who break the rules:
- Trump supporters: 65 percent;
- Kasich supporters, 43 percent;
- Cruz backers, 40 percent.
The nationwide survey of 2,033 adults also found that white evangelicals are evenly split, at 37 percent each, on their support for Trump and Cruz, while 19 percent supported Kasich.
The survey also determined that Republicans who say they seldom or never participate in community activities were twice as likely, by a 50-24 percent split, to support Trump over Cruz.
On the Democratic side, the survey found Hillary Clinton in a virtual tie with Bernie Sanders, with Clinton netting 46 percent and Sanders taking 47 percent.
In a break down:
- Church attendance: 48 percent of Sanders voters seldom or never go to church, 29 percent of Clinton's supporters don't go.
- Female voters: Clinton, 46 percent; Sanders, 44 percent.
- Female voters under 50: Sanders, 58 percent, Clinton, 33 percent.
- Women over 50: Clinton, 61 percent; Sanders, 29 percent;
In additional key findings:
- 68 percent off Trump supporters, compared to 57 percent of Cruz supporters, say society as a whole has become too soft and feminine. 64 percent of Clinton supporters and 69 percent of Sanders' reject that.
- 64 percent of Trump supporters say they are bothered by immigrants who speak little or no English, compared to 46 percent of Cruz' supporters.
- 45 percent overall say they are worried they or someone in their family will be a victim of terrorism.
The survey carried a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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