Donald Trump tied for first in poll of GOP race

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Reality television host and developer Donald Trump has risen to a tie for first among potential GOP presidential contenders, according to a new national poll.

Nineteen percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said in the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey that they are most likely to back Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. That put him in a tie at the top of the list with former Arkansas governor and 2008 candidate Mike Huckabee, who also received 19 percent support.

Rounding out the top five were former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with 12 percent support, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 11 percent support and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, also with 11 percent support. They were followed by Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 7 percent support and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota with 5 percent support.

Trump has risen ten points from a similar poll taken by the same organization last month.

Still, it would be premature to conclude that Trump has become a viable contender for the GOP presidential nomination. Forty-three percent of those surveyed said they didn't want to see him run; his relatively strong showing in the poll would seem to reflect both the media-savvy Trump's high level of name-recognition and the fact that the GOP electorate has not yet coalesced around a candidate.

Trump has been making the media rounds talking up a candidacy and pushing discredited theories and false information about President Obama's birthplace. The "birther" rhetoric has meant a backlash among prominent African-Americans, as Politico's Ben Smith reports.

"There's a lot of people that I've talked to [who] instinctively think that he's using the issue as a proxy for race," Urban League President Marc Morial told Politico. "I don't know if it has resonance in the Republican Party but I certainly think it has resonance in certain far right elements of the American public."

Trump said Monday that if he loses the GOP nomination he will "probably" run for the presidency as an independent. Skeptics question, however, whether he is seriously considering a run or is simply engaged in a disingenuous effort to drum up publicity for his reality show, which ends in June.

It's a charge Trump denies.

"I don't need to do this for ratings on 'The Apprentice,'" Trump told the Wall Street Journal. "This is too important, our country is in trouble, our country is not being properly led."

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2012 Contenders: Strengths and Weaknesses

[AmericanFrog]

Oh how soon we forget! Obama CLEANED HOUSE after little George W. left - and he's still cleaning! Obama SAVED the economy. Obama got healthcare REFORMED! Yeah! And Obama will continue cleaning well after 2012! You have something against socialism? Too bad!

[Rhambeaux]

The Donald for president? Of all the more palatable candidates who have political skills, this is all the Republican party can come up with?
Get down to main street guys the circus is in town. The Pied Piper is
leading the lemmings.

[philagumbo]

Yes! A president who has actually run something.The Donald for prez!

[san850]

READ THIS: http://factcheck.org/2011/04/donald-youre-fired/

It doesn't matter what "place" Trump holds on the roster of GOP crackpots on parade...he has ZERO chances of becoming President, especially after spewing his "birther" nonsense. He's nothing more than a narcissistic publicity hound who has had one extravagant failure after another.

These birthers must really have a problem recognizing facts and truth....or perhaps just choose not to because of their unbridled hatred for our President.

[stuckinohio]

I disagree!! Trump will win over Obama as the people are crying out for someone like him to win. I am tired of the wishy washi behavior of the current administration, I want someone who is willing to make a decision and stand by it. I wish I had the letter I wrote Jimmy Carter when I was in 10th grade, I got it a few days before we sent the helicopters to Iran and failed(he wrote that in my letter). I see the whole Libya thing just like that scenario a failed attempt at something! I personally think that if the birth record issue was so "bogus" then why does Obama not produce a certified copy that is what we all purchase to get a passport, you know the one with the raised seal. My theory is that maybe his birth certificate does not list his name as what he uses today that somehow would allow someone to access all of his other records that he wants to keep so secret, otherwise what is the big deal about producing a certified copy! It would hush everything, but I highly doubt he will do that!

[bradkt1]

I guess indicating a preference for Donald Trump is just another way of saying "None of the above."

[JavMD]

NO, NO , and did I say.. NO. I have been a strong Republican supporter for years and am sick and tired of 'idiots' that get themselves a seat at the politicians table to get elected. Just look at the junior senator from illinois where millions of Americans were merely sick of GW and voted the other way. Thats all that happens in America. After two terms of Clinton, then who, then back again to Democrat. This country voters are idiots. You should have to pass a 'test' after passing high school, minimum to be allowed to vote.

Trump, go home, take Obama with you, and Sarah by the way. Give us some choice of people who HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER, experience in Politics, experience in Finance, world affairs. I think by now, Hillary has got it together

[mac82059]

What racist dribble.... test em before they can vote was used in the south and is no more than a ploy to exclude others. You need a test to see if you could pass history. Did not work then, will not work today.

[cardamom1]

Even Hillary doesn't want to be associated with Obama anymore. She has already said she won't be going another term with this, ummm...well... President. Since so many were such Hillary fans, that should be a clue.

[ccjohncc1]

It so embarrasses me to know I am of the same race as Donald Trump. I mean at least get a normal haircut. Someone needs to tell him that he is the only one that thinks he looks good. The rest of us are either frightened or can barely hold back the laughter. Sadly I see his son is following in his weirdo footsteps. kid looks like he has a womans wig on.

[JavMD]

to writious+prose...
about the hair.... what it really means, is the guy has a weird way of looking at himself in the mirror. he knows how to balance a checkbook??? that is no where near enough to run the country. he has no experience in big government, reality TV is nothing... at least Ronald Reagan was Government of a very large state.

Go get some experience and a haircut. We have enough problems with countries laughing at us... we gonna elect an 'Elvis"?

[makemyday2day]

writious_prose - I agree, if some of the trolls on here are more concerned about the haircut, they shouldn't be allowed to vote anyhow. "The Don" knows business, and it's VERY obvious the so-called politicians we have in office now know NOTHING! JayMD, get over yourself!

[noloyalisti]

The Republi CONS only mindlessly represent a few filthy rich who want to turn America into a slave labor state. The CONS would be perfectly happy going back to the 1920's before unions, women's right to vote, civil right and workers rights.

The Corporation that they represent simply cares only about one thing: maximum profits and it does not matter who they kill.

[trueblueusa]

Right ON !
Again ! Everytime I read one of Your posts,....it looks like I could`ve written it,...needless to say,..I concur with You 100 % ~
Keep it Up,...These Mindless Limmpdiccks are SO Clueless,it never ceases to amaze me...The Present day GOP is something taken out of a PT Barnum strategy ! A REAL Circus !

[nfission235]

The GOP really has bunch of screwballs vying for the presidential nomination. I thought Trump was smarter than to resort to anything the Tea Party bunch believes in especially the stupid "birther" flack, it really doesn't fit him, however, I can see it coming from the idiot Palin, or Suckabee.

[mary-miami]

Teaparty are the revived Nazi's. Their candidates want to crush our FirstAmendment which protects free speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly, protest and petition. The extreme rightwing is shaking hands with the conservative Republicans because they both want a two class system of rich and poor with no middleclass. The middleclass for them is a bother due to it gives the poor a ladder up from servitude. Trump is a liar. He is not interested in what is good for our country, he's just a rich CEO that is looking out for more millions in his treasure chest. He's a "birther" now? Does he think that he is a superior being because his mother was born in Germany? The Teaparty wants to change the constitutional amend #14 that refers to citizenship, meaning, he will be barking at himself because he is an immigrant's child. The only party that defends equal rights and opportunities for all is the Democrats. I will vote for the re-election of President Obama in 2012.