Ohio Gov. John Kasich has surged to a 2-point lead in Michigan over Donald Trump, according to a new poll out Saturday.
Kasich leads Trump, a real estate developer and reality television star, 33 percent to 31 percent in a poll of the state from ARG.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, comes in third, at 15 percent. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., finishes last, at 11 percent.
Kasich has staked out a strategy of mostly competing in rustbelt and Northeastern states, arguing he has a narrow path to winning the nomination outright despite trailing badly in delegate counts.
The poll contradicts recent findings from other pollsters, which not only don’t have Kasich leading, but running a distant third.
A poll from the Republican-leaning Trafalgar Group conducted March 2-3 had Trump at 42 percent, Cruz at 20 percent and Kasich at 18 percent, with a claimed margin of error of less than 3 percent.
Similarly, a March poll by Fox 2 Detroit also had Trump at 42 percent, with Cruz at 19 percent, and Kasich even further back, at 14 percent.
A surprise victory or very strong showing of the Ohio governor in the neighboring state of Michigan, which votes March 8, would give Kasich great momentum going into his home state, which votes March 15. Kasich himself has stated that he must win Ohio.
