Story highlights
About two-thirds of those polled said they have an unfavorable opinion of Trump
Cruz faces a smaller but still significant gap
The top Republicans remain handicapped by their deep unpopularity with the American public, according to a new poll released Thursday.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that GOP front-runner Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are viewed unfavorably by a majority of Americans – though both are viewed favorably by just more than half of Republicans – while opinions are split on Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
About two-thirds of those polled said they have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, compared to 31% who view him favorably. About 53% saying their opinion is “strongly unfavorable.”
Cruz faces a smaller but still significant gap, with a 53% unfavorable rating compared to to 26% reporting favorable opinions. Cruz also faces less intense dislike, as only 33% check “strongly unfavorable.”
Kasich, meanwhile, is viewed favorably and unfavorably by an equal share of Americans, at 39%. But he’s also lesser known – 22% have no opinion of him.
Trump and Cruz are popular with just over a majority of Republicans – at 56% and 58% each – however, the poll also found deep divisions persist within the party. More than half (52%) of Cruz supporters report an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 51% of Trump backers says the same about Cruz.
The poll also surveyed key segments of the electorate and found Trump underwater among independents and women, Hispanics and Americans under 40.
The poll surveyed 1,010 adults between April 6-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.