Trump leads another 2016 poll

by Elliot Smilowitz - 07/16/15 10:37 PM ET

Businessman Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican presidential field, but a newcomer to the race is hot on his trail.

Trump took 18 percent support in a national Fox News poll released Thursday evening. Right behind him is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, with 15 percent.

{mosads}Walker officially launched his campaign Monday, declaring to supporters, “I will fight and win for you.”

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush dropped to third place, garnering 14 percent support.

In the previous edition of the Fox News poll, released June 15, Bush led the field with 15 percent, followed by Trump at 11 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 10 percent, and Walker and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) tied at 9 percent.

Paul checked in at fourth place in the new survey at 8 percent, followed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 7 percent and Carson at 6 percent.

Following them are Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 4 percent, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 3 percent.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) are tied for tenth at 2 percent.

Tenth place is a key spot, because Fox News’s Aug. 6 debate will be limited to the top 10 candidates based on an average of polls. Candidates are pulling out all the stops to climb the polls for a shot at the stage.

Former CEO Carly Fiorina, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former New York Gov. George Pataki all fell outside the top 10 in the poll.

The poll surveyed 1,019 registered voters between July 13-15. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Tags Donald Trump Jeb Bush Scott Walker