Call him whatever you want to call him, but you have to call him the current front-runner according to several polls released in the last two weeks. Sure, at a mere 18 percent, front-runner is a weak term as the field is still split, but he is currently holding the top spot.
Report from the Washington Times:
Businessman Donald Trump is the front-runner in a second national poll this week on the 2016 GOP field, holding an edge over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in a Fox News poll released Thursday.
Mr. Trump was the top choice of 18 percent of Republican primary voters in the poll, followed by Mr. Walker at 15 percent and Mr. Bush at 14 percent.
Support for Mr. Trump was up 7 percentage points since last month and up 14 points since May. He was also first in a Suffolk University/USA Today poll released earlier in the week.
In response to the Fox poll, Mr. Trump said in a statement: “I am incredibly pleased that my message is resonating with people all over the United States. There are so many American’s that are ready to make our country great again, and I am the only one who can make it happen. We will bring back the jobs, bring back the money, and bring back the spirit!”
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was next at 8 percent, followed by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 7 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 6 percent, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 4 percent apiece.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was at 3 percent, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Sen. Rick Santorum were tied for 10th at 2 percent apiece. Mr. Kasich is scheduled to announce his 2016 plans on Tuesday in Columbus.
It is to the point that some prominent Republicans, such as Senator John McCain, have begun harshly criticizing Trump and the “crazies,” as McCain calls them, he has managed to engage with. The biggest losers during Trump’s rise to the top are the mid to second tier names who have been pushed further down the list as Trump splinters support from numerous candidates.
The bottom line is that, as Trump continues to rise, Fox News and the GOP donor class will have a difficult time figuring out how to prevent his attendance at the first debate on August 6.
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