From Staff
Donald Trump still is the frontrunner.
But other Republican presidential hopefuls looking up are all in double digits, according to a Jacksonville University Public Policy Poll Institute poll released Thursday.
The poll shows five candidates in double digits in what’s becoming a tightening race, according to the JU institute in a news release.
The poll was conducted Sept. 17-22 and comprised 585 registered Republican likely voters.
Results had billionaire businessman Trump in the lead at 24.4 percent; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 16.9 percent; former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina at 15.6 percent; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 15 percent; and Florida senator Marco Rubio at 14.9 percent.
Trump also had the highest favorability rating at 50.1 percent, while also leading the unfavorable rating of any candidate at 40.3 percent.
Bush came in at 68/25 percent; Fiorina at 72.6/10.5 percent; Carson at 77.6/11.8 percent; and Rubio at 79.7/12.3 percent.
“The conventional wisdom was that former Gov. Bush or Sen. Rubio were a lock to win the Florida primary,” said Rick Mullaney, director of the JU Public Policy Institute. “This poll, however, shows a much more competitive race in Florida with five candidates polling in double figures.
“It also reflects the strong debate performances by Mrs. Fiorina and Sen. Rubio in the last debate, with both moving up substantially,” he said.
The poll asked respondents their opinions of the GOP candidates in personal phone interviews.
The margin of error is plus/minus 4.1 percentage points.