Businessman Donald Trump is riding high in Florida as former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is holding back U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the Sunshine State, a new poll shows.
Viewpoint Florida released a poll of likely Florida Republican primary voters on Monday which shows Trump out front with 27 percent followed by Rubio with 16 percent. Dr. Ben Carson takes 15 percent while U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Bush are tied with 12 percent apiece. Businesswoman Carly Fiorina garners 5 percent while the other candidates split 5 percent.
But with Bush struggling as he cuts staff salaries and flopping in last week’s debate, the poll shows Rubio benefits greatly if the former governor pulls out of the race. In that scenario, Trump is still ahead with 27 percent followed by Rubio with 24 percent. Carson claims 15 percent and Cruz takes 12 percent while Fiorina gets 6 percent and 7 percent support other candidates.
If Rubio gets out of the race, Bush does not get the same kind of boost. Trump leads the scenario with 28 percent followed by Carson and Cruz, tied with 19 percent apiece. Bush takes 17 percent in this scenario while 5 percent are for Fiorina and 6 percent support other candidates.
Trump takes 29 percent of men and 25 percent of women. Rubio gets 17 percent of men and 16 percent of women. Carson pulls 16 percent of women and 14 percent of men. Bush takes 13 percent of women and 11 percent of men. Cruz wins the support of 14 percent of men and 11 percent of women. Fiorina claims 5 percent of men and 4 percent of women.
The poll shows Trump takes 28 percent of white voters, 13 percent of Hispanic voters and 29 percent of other voters. Rubio claims 28 percent of Hispanic voters, 15 percent of white voters and 16 percent of other voters. Carson gets 16 percent of white voters, 6 percent of Hispanics and 19 percent of other voters. More than a third of Hispanics--36 percent--back Bush as do 10 percent of whites and 6 percent of other voters. Cruz takes 15 percent of Hispanics, 12 percent of whites and 7 percent of other voters. Fiorina pulls only 4 percent of whites and 1 percent of Hispanics but wins the support of 12 percent of other voters.
The poll of 2,047 likely Florida Republican primary voters was taken from Oct. 29-Oct. 30 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
