Trump leads in NC with every group within GOP electorate- strongest with moderates (29%), men (26%). Also up w/women: http://t.co/EIPkTvW3Ti — PublicPolicyPolling (@ppppolls) August 19, 2015

RALEIGH -- Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump's lead continues to grow in North Carolina, according to a poll released Wednesday by liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling, but it's the surprise inclusion of an independent candidate that's turning heads.The new PPP poll revealed independent candidate Deez Nuts is polling at 9 percent in the Tar Heel state. Running as an independent from Wallingford, Iowa, population 197, Deez Nuts has gone viral and has a large fan base.According to The Daily Beast, Deez Nuts is actually the invention of a 15-year-old Iowa farm boy, who filed papers with the Federal Election Commission.The poll, done in July, showed Trump leading the Republican field at 16 percent. The newest survey of North Carolina shows Trump has risen steeply to 24 percent, while all others are lagging behind.According to PPP, Trump leads the GOP with moderates, "somewhat conservative voters," "very conservative voters," men, women, middle-aged voters, younger voters and seniors.The survey shows Hillary Clinton is still leading with Democrats in North Carolina at 55 percent. Bernie Sanders is trailing Clinton with 19 percent.Public Policy Polling revealed independent candidate Deez Nuts is polling at 9 percent in North Carolina.Public Policy Polling surveyed 957 voters from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16, including 477 Democratic primary voters and 406 Republican primary voters. The margin of error for the overall survey is +/-3.2 percent.