Donald Trump’s suddenly surging presidential chances got another boost Tuesday with the release of a poll that measured the business magnate as the second-most-popular choice for Republican primary voters in the crucial early voting state of New Hampshire.
Trump picked up the support of 21 percent of state primary voters, behind only 27 percent for Mitt Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, according to the survey from Democratic-leaning firm Public Policy Polling (PPP).
“He has more support than even we thought,” PPP assistant director Dustin Ingalls said in an interview.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee tied for third with 12 percent support apiece.
Trump will head to the Granite State in June to address the “Politics and Eggs” speaking series in Concord, N.H., an important stop on the state’s political circuit for any would-be candidate. He is also traveling to Iowa, another early voting hot spot.
The New Hampshire survey followed a Harris Poll last week that measured Trump tied with Romney as the top pick for Republicans nationwide, with 10 percent of likely primary voters backing the oft-unfiltered billionaire New York businessman.
Both polls showed that the field remains loose and spread out, despite the fact that at this point four years ago, virtually all the major contenders for the party’s nomination had begun fundraising and campaigning in earnest. As many as ten potential Republican candidates still pick up measurable levels of support, including bold-faced names like Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Though Trump, like virtually all of the potential nominees beside former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, has not officially confirmed that he will run, he has stepped up his public criticism of President Barack Obama — including questioning his birth certificate — and given interviews to many media outlets.
He was interviewed on FOX News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” and “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” in the last week of March alone, in addition to appearances on the channel’s morning show and “Geraldo At Large.”
In the “O’Reilly” interview, Trump said he planned to keep oil prices low by threatening to withdraw American military support from Middle Eastern countries that do not agree to sell oil to the US at set prices.
A visibly amused O’Reilly responded, “What, are you going to scare them?”
“You’re going to scare them, absolutely,” the 64-year old Trump responded.
He also said he would impose a 25 percent import tariff on Chinese goods to convince the country to negotiate on allowing their currency to float at market rates.
A separate PPP poll last week found that Trump would lose to Obama by a 47-38 percent margin if the election were held today.
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