In the last few weeks of polling, eight in 10 Republicans have regularly said they would be happy if Trump were the only GOP candidate running; 86 percent say now they will vote to re-elect the president next November; and just 5 percent would vote for the Democrat.
But there are other candidates. Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, former Illinois Representative Joe Walsh, and former South Carolina Governor and Congressman Mark Sanford are challenging the president. They are truly long shots. Many GOP primary voters don’t know who they are, and those that know them don’t necessarily like them.
The president appears to overwhelm his rivals in popularity. He also is a prohibitive favorite when the four men are matched against each other. Ten times as many Republican voters would support Trump than would vote for the other three – combined. Only 7 percent aren’t sure, and 2 percent wouldn’t vote for any of them.
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