Only 15 percent of Republican's said they would not back Trump.
Republicans increasingly think that Donald J. Trump
has the best chance of winning the 2016 presidential election as their
nominee as confidence fades in traditional politicians like Jeb Bush and
Scott Walker, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.
Although
Republicans have reservations about Mr. Trump and voters often end up
embracing candidates who lagged in early polls, the billionaire
businessman appears to be gaining acceptance as a possible nominee.
The
poll found that 39 percent of Republican primary and caucus voters
viewed Mr. Trump as their best shot at winning the presidency, compared
with 26 percent in a CBS survey in August. Only 15 percent said they
would not back him as the party’s standard-bearer.
Ben
Carson, another Republican with no history in the political
establishment, is also gaining notable new support and is now running
nearly even with Mr. Trump. Mr. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who
delivers his socially conservative message and outsider views in more
measured tones than Mr. Trump, rose to 23 percent; he had 6 percent
early last month before a widely praised performance in the first
Republican debate. Mr. Trump draws 27 percent support in the new poll,
compared with 24 percent last month.
