Ted Cruz’s image drops among Republicans, GOP-leaning independents: poll

Sen. Ted Cruz’s image has dropped among Republicans and GOP-leaning independents in recent weeks and his favorable rating among that bloc was lower than his unfavorable rating for the first time since Gallup started daily tracking last July, according to a new poll.

Mr. Cruz had a 39 percent favorable rating and a 45 percent unfavorable rating among Republicans and leaners, according to a Gallup survey taken April 24-30 and released Monday.

At one point around January, Mr. Cruz had a 61 percent/15 percent favorable/unfavorable split, and even a few weeks ago, he had a 50 percent/35 percent split.

But starting on April 19 in New York, GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump has reeled off decisive wins in six straight states and most polls show Mr. Trump with an edge heading into Tuesday’s primary in Indiana.

Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has seen his image among Republicans improve in recent weeks.

He had a 59 percent/35 percent favorable/unfavorable split in the latest survey, up from a 53 percent/41 percent split several weeks ago.

Mr. Trump had reached about a 63 percent/30 percent split in late August and early September of last year.

Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz, though, had negative net favorable ratings (favorable minus unfavorable) among all national adults; Mr. Trump was at -29 and Mr. Cruz was at -25.

Among Democrats, Mr. Trump had a -75 net favorable rating and Mr. Cruz had a -45 net favorable rating.

“Trump thus has a tough challenge ahead of him should he win the GOP nomination, given the evident antipathy he engenders among anyone who does not identify as a Republican,” Gallup’s Frank Newport wrote.

“One consolation for Trump: Hillary Clinton’s net favorable rating among Republicans at this point is -74, nearly the same as Trump’s rating among Democrats, the opposing party,” Mr. Newport wrote. “Clinton, however, has a +47 net favorable among her native Democrats, about twice as high as Trump’s current +24 among Republicans.”