2016 Presidential Race: Polls Show Donald Trump in Second Place Among New Hampshire Republican Voters
It looks like Republican voters in New Hampshire may actually be taking Donald Trump's 2016 presidential run seriously.
According to a new Suffolk University poll of New Hampshire Republicans, the billionaire real estate developer and reality television star ranks in second place among the crowded pool of Republican candidates vying for the White House.
The poll, which surveyed 500 likely New Hampshire Republican voters from June 18 to June 22, shows that Trump has earned 11 percent of the vote. That puts him just behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who ranked as the most popular GOP contender with 14 percent of the vote. Almost one third of those surveyed said they were undecided.
"Jeb Bush continues to lead, but Donald Trump has emerged as an anti-Jeb Bush alternative in New Hampshire," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, in a press release. "Many of those who like Trump are voting for him, and although many more dislike him, the unfavorables are split up among many other candidates. It's the politics of plurality."
Although many are surprised with just how well "The Apprentice's" star is polling in the key battleground state, Trump expressed disappointment that he's only in second place instead of first.
"I'm not thrilled, cause how could Bush be in first place?" Trump said when asked about the poll, according to CNN. "This guy can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag!"
Despite the 49 percent of Republicans who said they had an unfavorable view of Trump, 60 percent said they would like to see him participate in an upcoming debate. In contrast, only 35 percent said that they would prefer to see the business mogul be left out of the debates.
"Trump's controversial candidacy is being constructed in a way that gives him visibility and exposure in the short term but may also limit his growth in the long run, like a glass ceiling," Paleologos added.
The poll also shows that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ranks in third place with 8 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio earned 7 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has 6 percent and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has 5 percent.
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