Former reality-television host Donald Trump continues to enjoy a substantial lead in the New Hampshire Republican primary race, according to a Boston Herald/Franklin Pierce University poll released Monday.
The poll showed support for Trump at 33 percent, while support for second-place contender Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stood at 14 percent. Trump’s share of the vote has increased from 26 percent since the same poll was conducted in December.
While Trump has remained consistently ahead in New Hampshire, this poll indicates a tightening struggle for second place. At 14 percent of the vote, Cruz enjoys only a slim advantage over former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) with 12 percent, who is closely followed in turn by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) at 9 percent. In the December poll, Cruz was tied with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for second place at 12 percent. Rubio’s support has declined to 8 percent in this month’s poll.
The Boston Globe/Franklin Pierce University poll was conducted from Jan. 20-24 by live telephone interview. Pollsters surveyed 444 likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of 4.7 percent.