Q poll: ‘Freight train’ Trump has 2-1 lead

Donald Trump has scored his highest numbers in a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016 that found him with a 2-1 lead among Republican voters nationwide, with 39 percent. He’s followed by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida with 19 percent and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas with 18 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University National poll released today. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 6 percent with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Dr. Ben Carson at 4 percent each. Nine percent are undecided. less Donald Trump has scored his highest numbers in a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016 that found him with a 2-1 lead among Republican voters nationwide, with 39 percent. He’s ... more Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Q poll: ‘Freight train’ Trump has 2-1 lead 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Donald Trump has scored his highest numbers in a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday that found him with a 2-1 lead among Republican voters nationwide, with 39 percent.

He’s followed by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, with 19 percent, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas with 18 percent. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 6 percent with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Dr. Ben Carson at 4 percent each. Nine percent are undecided.

This compares to the results of a Feb. 5 survey by the independent, Hamden-based Quinnipiac University poll, showing Trump with 31 percent, Cruz with 22 percent and Rubio with 19 percent.

In the Democratic race nationwide, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has 44 percent, with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont at 42 percent, and 11 percent undecided, unchanged from February 5.

The top three Republicans are closely matched in terms of voter opinion as Trump gets a 62-31 percent favorability among Republicans, with 64-17 percent for Rubio and 62-23 percent for Cruz.

“Reports of Donald Trump’s imminent demise as a candidate are clearly and greatly exaggerated,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement. “Like a freight train barreling through signals with his horn on full blast, Trump heads down the track towards a possible nomination.

“There is a ‘but,’ ” Malloy said. “Trump’s raw numbers are formidable, but he trails the pack on some ‘from the gut’ character measurements, and the kind of bright spot that Jeb Bush supporters, few as they be, may grab ahold of. The former Florida governor polls best in the pack on ‘experience.’

“Senator Bernie Sanders and Secretary Hillary Clinton are neck and neck. But while Bernie has the trust, Hillary has the experience. Two different measurements of two dissimilar candidates,” Malloy pointed out.

Trump has a good chance of winning in November, 77 percent of Republican voters nationwide say, while 61 percent say Rubio has a good chance of winning and 60 percent say Cruz has a good chance.

Looking at key characteristics, Bush leads in one area as 74 percent of Republicans say he has the right kind of experience to be president, with Cruz at 68 percent, Trump at 60 percent, Kasich at 59 percent and Rubio at 54 percent.

On other qualities, Republican voters say: 72 percent that Rubio is honest and trustworthy, with 70 percent for Bush, 65 percent for Kasich, 62 percent for Cruz and 60 percent for Trump.

Other Q poll results found:

80 percent that Trump has strong leadership qualities, with 69 percent for Cruz, 63 percent for Rubio, 60 percent for Bush and 58 percent for Kasich;

73 percent that Rubio cares about their needs and problems, with 67 percent for Cruz, 66 percent for Bush and 62 percent each for Trump and Kasich;

70 percent say Rubio shares their values, with 69 percent for Bush, 67 percent for Cruz, 60 percent for Trump and 57 percent for Kasich.

For the complete poll results: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2323