Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is leading 2016 GOP presidential rival Donald Trump by 15 points in the senator’s home state, according to a poll released Thursday just days ahead of Super Tuesday.
Mr. Cruz was at 38 percent support among likely Republican primary voters in Texas, with Mr. Trump at 23 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 21 percent, according to the survey from Monmouth University conducted from Monday to Wednesday.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was at 6 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich was at 5 percent.
“Cruz looks to be well-positioned in Texas.The challenge for him is that a lot of other states are also on the slate for Super Tuesday,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmout University Polling Institute.
Texas is one of 11 states where voters will head to the polls Tuesday to make their selections for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, and its 155 delegates up for grabs is by far the most of any state.
Other recent polls on the state have ranged from a tie between Mr. Cruz and Mr. Trump to a 15-point edge for Mr. Cruz, who is trying to demonstrate that he is the only candidate in the race who can take down the billionaire businessman.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump leads Marco Rubio by 16 points in Florida: Poll
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a better than 2-to-1 advantage over Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, 64 percent to 30 percent.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.