Critics claim Donald Trump is not a serious candidate for president, but the results of a new Quinnipiac University Poll are the latest to show the real estate mogul leading in the race for the Republican nomination.
The poll found that 20 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaners would vote for Trump in the GOP primary, the strongest support Quinnipiac has recorded for a Republican contender.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker comes in second in the poll at 13 percent, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush with 10 percent. No other Republican candidate tops 6 percent and 12 percent are undecided.
The Quinnipiac survey comes on the heels of separate CNN/ORC International and USA Today/Suffolk University polls showing Trump in the lead.
The strong support for Trump comes despite widespread criticism of his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants and Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., military service.
The poll was not all good news for Trump, however, as he also tops the "no way" list, with 30 percent of Republican voters saying they would definitely not support him.
"They love him and they hate him," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Donald Trump triumphs on the stump so far, but do voters REALLY want him? Maybe not so much."
The results also suggest Trump could have a tough time in the general election if he were to secure the Republican nomination.
Quinnipiac said the three leading Democratic contenders lead Trump by wide margins in potential general election matchups.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton thumps Trump 48 percent to 36 percent, Vice President Joe Biden tops Trump 49 percent to 37 percent and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., beats Trump 45 percent to 37 percent.
The poll also showed Clinton with a nearly forty-point lead in the race for the Democratic nomination, although her favorability rating is her worst ever at a negative 40 percent to 51 percent.
Malloy also noted Clinton is locked in too close to call races with Walker and Bush, while Biden runs just as well as her against the top Republicans.
The Quinnipiac survey of 1,644 registered voters was conducted July 23rd through 28th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
The survey included 710 Republicans with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points and 681 Democrats with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
(Photo Credit: Michael Vadon)
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