Washington (CNN) Donald Trump's so-far durable support in the Republican race for the presidential nomination rests largely on widespread dissatisfaction with Washington, and has been bolstered by his vocal criticism of the country's immigration policies.

A new CNN/ORC Poll finds that just 30% of registered voters nationwide say they feel their views are well represented by the government in Washington, while 40% say they are not represented well at all. That figure spikes among Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Among GOP voters, 53% say they don't feel their views are well represented in Washington at all, nearly double the 27% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who feel the same way.

And these Republican voters who say their views are not represented at all by the government in Washington are far more likely than other Republicans to back Trump's run for the White House. Among this group, Trump holds a broad lead: 24% support him vs. 13% behind former Florida governor Jeb Bush, with the rest of the field at 8% or less. These disaffected voters are more likely to say they want Trump to stay in the race (58% vs. 45% among other Republicans) and more likely to think he will ultimately win the party's nomination: 27% say Trump will, 29% Bush. Among other Republican registered voters, those figures are 34% Bush and 18% Trump.

The disaffected are slightly more likely to cite illegal immigration as their top issue in deciding whom to support for president next year (14% compared with 7% among other Republicans), but in both groups, the economy is the dominant issue, cited as tops by more than 4 in 10 voters.

Although these voters say they feel left out of Washington's political process, they are more likely than other Republicans to say they are "extremely enthusiastic" about voting for president next year, 31% compared with 23% among other Republican registered voters. They are also slightly less satisfied with the field of Republican candidates (29% say they are dissatisfied compared with 22% among other Republican voters).

Photos: Who's running for president? Photos: Who's running for president? Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?



"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement. Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House."So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement. Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?



"These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23."These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant." Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president? Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid.



"I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University. Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?



"Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey." Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates."Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey." Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Who's running for president?



"This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26. Sen. Bernie Sanders , an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, announced his run in an email to supporters on April 30. He has said the United States needs a "political revolution" of working-class Americans to take back control of the government from billionaires."This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26. Hide Caption 6 of 6

Interest in a candidate to change Washington

When they assess the traits they're looking for in the next president, those feeling disconnected from Washington are just as likely as other Republicans to say they want a candidate who stands up for his or her beliefs, but they are less likely to prioritize empathy or compromise, and are more likely to be looking for someone who's not a typical politician and who wants to change the way Washington works.

Those attributes correspond well with Trump's strengths. Among those Republican voters who say it's extremely important that the next president stand up for his or her beliefs even in the face of criticism, Trump is practically a runaway winner: 25% back him compared with 11% behind Bush and 10% backing Walker. He carries similarly broad advantages among those who say it's key that the president is not a typical politician (23% vs. 14% for Bush and 13% Walker) and wants to change the way Washington works (23% Trump, 16% Bush, 10% Walker).

Bush and Trump are tied among those who say it's extremely important for the next president to be able to compromise to get things done, 16% support each, 13% are behind Walker.

Immigration and GOP voters

The poll also finds Trump's positions on immigration are at odds with those of most Americans, but may be providing him a boost in the Republican nomination contest. Overall, 56% say that U.S. policies on immigration should largely focus on developing a plan that would allow illegal immigrants with jobs to become legal residents, while 42% prioritize stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. and deporting those already here. That's a significant increase on the side of allowing immigrants living the U.S. illegally to become legal residents, up from 49% in February.

Among the majority who say U.S. policy should focus on a path to legal residency, 72% say they have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, that dips to 41% among those who think the focus ought to be on border security.

Still, few see illegal immigration as a puzzle that's been solved. The poll shows 69% of Americans think the number of immigrants coming to the United States illegally has increased in the last few years, just 25% think it's decreased. That's in contrast with a recent analysis from the Pew Research Center, which found the number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. has stabilized, partly due to a "slowdown in new illegal immigration since the Great Recession." According to Pew, most immigrants living the U.S. illegally have been in the country for a decade or more.

The CNN/ORC poll reveals massive partisan divides in opinions on immigration, however, with Trump's campaign capitalizing on the imbalance in his bid for the Republican nomination. Nearly three quarters of Democratic registered voters (72%) say the country's immigration policies should focus on allowing immigrants in the country illegally to become legal residents, while just 38% of Republican registered voters agree.

This issue sharply divides Republican preferences in the race for the party's nomination. Among those Republican registered voters who say that the focus of immigration policy should be helping illegal residents become legal ones, 19% back Jeb Bush for the party's presidential nomination, 13% support Trump. Among those who say the focus should be border security and deportation, 23% support Trump, 13% Bush.

Those who think the government's focus ought to be on border security are more likely to call it a top issue in deciding their vote for president. Sixteen percent of such Republican voters call immigration their top issue, compared with 4% among those who think the focus should be on helping illegal immigrants gain legal status.

Immigration not top voter issue

Still, illegal immigration is not the most important issue for the Republican field. Just 11% call it key to their decision about whom to support in next year's presidential election. That's about on par with foreign policy (13%), health care and terrorism (15%) and all rank well below the economy (44% call that their top consideration).

The economy is a dominant issue for Democrats as well, 45% of whom call it their top issue. And the poll suggests it may be boosting independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as he seeks to topple Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the race for that party's presidential nomination.

Although Clinton has focused recently on rolling out her proposed economic policies, she loses significant ground to Bernie Sanders among Democratic voters who call the economy their top issue. Among economy voters, a narrow majority of 51% say they back Clinton, while 24% support Sanders. Among those Democratic voters who cite a different issue as their main concern, 61% back Clinton, while 15% favor Vice President Joe Biden and 14% back Sanders.