Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is in a virtual dead heat with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) among Republicans in Cruz’s home state, a new poll surveying the prospective 2016 Republican presidential field found.
The poll, conducted by the University of Texas/Texas Tribune found that Cruz has the support of 20 percent of registered voters while Walker has the support of 19 percent, putting the two likely 2016 candidates in a virtual tie. That’s a shift from October, when the poll found Cruz leading Walker with 26 percent.
The poll also found former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and conservative surgeon Ben Carson tied with 9 percent each, and former Texas Gov. Rich Perry (R) with 8 percent, among Republican primary voters.
While none of those Republicans have formally announced their candidacy for president, they have all taken serious steps toward jumping into the 2016 Republican primary.
“Scott Walker is clearly breathing some of the oxygen on the right. The big takeaway here is that Ted Cruz is still a giant among Texas Republicans — but he is not invulnerable,” Jim Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin, said. “Conservatives are willing to look at another candidate who fits that profile.”
The poll was conducted among 1387 respondents between February 6 and February 16. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.36 percentage points.
