Ohio Gov. John Kasich is tied with GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump in Ohio, according to a poll released Monday that showed Mr. Kasich close a 6-point deficit from earlier in the month.
Mr. Kasich and Mr. Trump were tied at 38 percent apiece in the Quinnipiac University poll, which was taken from March 8-13. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was at 16 percent, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was at 3 percent.
In a Quinnipiac poll taken from March 2-7, Mr. Trump had held a 6-point, 38 percent to 32 percent, lead over Mr. Kasich in Ohio. Mr. Cruz was at 16 percent in that poll, and Mr. Rubio was at 9 percent.
The Rubio campaign has recently indicated that their supporters in Ohio could support Mr. Kasich on Tuesday, since he’s likely the only candidate who can beat Mr. Trump there, though the Kasich campaign isn’t returning the favor for Mr. Rubio in Florida.
In Florida, Mr. Trump had a greater than 2-to-1 advantage over Mr. Rubio, 46 percent to 22 percent. Mr. Cruz was at 14 percent and Mr. Kasich was at 10 percent.
On the Democratic side in Ohio, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont by 5 points, 51 percent to 46 percent. A March 9 Quinnipiac survey had Mrs. Clinton leading by 9 points, 52 percent to 43 percent.
“Ohio is a real contest on both sides. Trump and Gov. John Kasich are in a dead heat for the Buckeye State’s GOP delegates,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Almost as close is the Democratic race where Sen. Bernie Sanders has closed 9-point deficit to the smallest of margins,” he said. “Sanders has the momentum, but the question is whether he can win as he did in Michigan or just come close as in Iowa.”
In Florida, Mrs. Clinton had a sizable 60-percent to 34-percent lead over Mr. Sanders.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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