Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has vaulted into the lead in the GOP primary race, backed by Hispanics and white evangelical voters according to a huge new poll of 2,700 people.
The new American Values Survey finds Carson on top of the race with 27 percent followed by Donald Trump at 20 percent, and Sen. Ted Cruz at 10 percent. The poll revealed a one-month reversal between Carson and Trump.
CHART: Candidate preference in Republican presidential primary https://t.co/Hx9J0hExXf #AVS2015 pic.twitter.com/46pj9ehjal
— PRRI (@PRRIpoll) November 17, 2015
The survey, released at the Brookings Institution Tuesday morning, also showed Carson leading among Hispanics and white evangelical Christians.
With Hispanics, Carson he has a 32 percent favorability rating. Only 18 percent of Hispanics have an unfavorable view of the retired surgeon.
Jeb Bush is second with a 28 percent favorable rating, but a large 45 percent have an unfavorable view of the former Florida governor. With Trump, 80 percent of Hispanics have an unfavorable view.
CHART: Favorability of GOP candidates among Hispanics https://t.co/Hx9J0hExXf #AVS2015 pic.twitter.com/da4dP95G5q
— PRRI (@PRRIpoll) November 17, 2015
Among white evangelicals, a group sought by several candidates including Sen. Ted Cruz and former Sen. Rick Santorum, Carson also leads, and overwhelmingly. Some 55 percent have a favorable view of Carson. Next is Bush at 41 percent favorable, and Trump with a 39 percent favorable rating.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
