“One-quarter of likely GOP [Republican] primary voters in New Hampshire currently support Donald Trump (24 percent), with Jeb Bush placing second at 12 percent,” the poll read.
Other top candidates include John Kasich and Scott Walker with 7 percent support, Marco Rubio with 6 percent, and Ben Carson and Rand Paul with 5 percent.
New Hampshire is the first state to hold primary elections for Republican and Democrat presidential candidates. Its outcome plays a major role in determining the selection of the candidates for the two major parties.
A multi-billionaire real-estate tycoon, Trump has become a controversial figure in the Republican establishment over comments on immigration and criticism of prominent Republicans. His comments have created a media frenzy.
On July 18, Trump slammed Senator John McCain’s Vietnam War record, saying he became a war hero because he was captured, and added that he likes people who were not captured. The comment created a backlash, with McCain urging Trump to apologize to US prisoners of war.
“The controversy over comments about John McCain’s war service do not appear to have slowed the Trump steamroller,” Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray said.
Political analysts suggest Trump does not stand a chance running on the Republican ticket and his comments are hurting the party.
