Businessman Donald Trump has a 14-point lead over No. 2 Sen. Ted Cruz in the first-in-the-south primary state of South Carolina, with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush holding down third place in a new poll.
Mr. Trump was at 32 percent in the Opinion Savvy/Augusta Chronicle poll, followed by Mr. Cruz, Texas Republican, at 18 percent and Mr. Bush at 13 percent.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was next at 11 percent, followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 9 percent.
In a five-way contest between those candidates, Mr. Trump led with 35 percent, followed by Mr. Cruz at 19 percent, Mr. Rubio at 16 percent, Mr. Bush at 15 percent, and Mr. Carson at 10 percent.
In the broader poll, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at 4 percent, followed by former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at about 3 percent each, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at about 2 percent each, and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at less than 1 percent.
In a Chronicle poll taken in mid-December, Mr. Trump had held a 7-point lead over Mr. Cruz, 28 percent to 21 percent.
The new survey of 683 likely GOP voters was taken on Jan. 15 - the day after the latest GOP presidential debate, held in North Charleston, and the same day former 2016 GOP presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina endorsed Mr. Bush.
Of those who said they watched the debate, 37 percent said Mr. Trump did the best, followed by Mr. Cruz at 23 percent and Mr. Rubio at 12 percent.
A little more than a quarter of those who watched the debate, 27 percent, said Mr. Bush did the worst, followed by Mr. Kasich at 18 percent and Mr. Carson at 15 percent.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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