The latest U.S. political survey shows billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump is still leading the crowded field of candidates seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
The national poll by The Washington Post and ABC News released Sunday shows the flamboyant Trump riding a strong wave of anti-Washington sentiment among Republican voters, running ahead of the 14-candidate field with 32 percent support. He has campaigned on a plan to deport the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without proper documentation and, in the wake of the deadly attacks in Paris, he wants to create a registry of all Muslims in the U.S.
Trump is maintaining his edge over another political novice, former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is favored by 22 percent of registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. The survey, conducted over the last several days, shows Florida Senator Marco Rubio with 11 percent, Texas Senator Ted Cruz with 8 percent and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the son and brother of two U.S. presidents, in fifth with 6 percent.
Hillary Clinton leads on Democratic side
In the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, the survey showed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with a wide lead over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, 60 to 34 percent.
The polling comes about 2 1/2 months ahead of the first voting in Republican and Democratic party contests in the central farm state of Iowa and the rural northeastern state of New Hampshire, followed by voting in numerous other states.
The U.S. presidential candidates are all looking to succeed President Barack Obama, who is limited by the U.S. Constitution to two terms in office and will leave the White House in January 2017. His successor will be picked in the national election next November.
