Donald Trump insisted he will not panic in the face of falling poll numbers, as reflected in the latest CNN/ORC national poll of Republican voters released Sunday.

The latest tally shows former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina dramatically cutting into Trump's early lead for the GOP's 2016 presidential nomination. In the CNN poll, the first since the second Republican presidential primary debate on Sept. 16, support for Trump slipped from 32 to 24 percent.

Meanwhile, Fiorina soared to second place. She currently has 15 percent of the vote, one-percentage point ahead of retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who stands at 14 percent.

"Well I don't think panic is a word that I'd use, but you know, sure, I'd like to stay on top," said Trump, via Politico, who nonetheless insists he would be "OK" if he is not ultimately selected as the party's nominee. "I have stayed on top. I've been very strong with that."

Trump went on to rationalize that his drop in support could be due to him self-funding his own campaign and not taking any contributions from the likes of lobbyists or special interest groups.

"I'm going to do what's right," he said. "If I don't make it, that's OK, I'll go back to having a good time and building a business and being with my family and my kids. But this is a shot, and I'll give it my best."

As for his advancing nemesis Fiorina, Trump added that simply listening to her for any prolonged period could leave you with a "tremendous headache."

During Sunday night's 67th Emmy Awards show on FOX, Trump himself became a common punch line, as everyone from host Andy Samberg to the Comedy Central team of "Key & Peele" mocked him and the entire GOP field.

"It's a badge of courage," Trump said of all the added attention. "It's a badge of honor. It was sort of amazing, when you think of it -- you're watching television, you're watching the Emmys, and your name's mentioned by every other person."