Donald Trump Is No. 2 on New CNN GOP Presidential Contender Poll Amid Mexican Immigrant Controversy

Billionaire mogul leads other Republican contenders Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, and Rand Paul

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According to a new CNN poll, Republican voters are getting behind Donald Trump.

In a survey of 256 respondents who describe themselves as Republicans and 151 who describe themselves as independents who lean Republican, Trump attracted 12 percent support, making him second to only former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who got 19 percent.

The number puts Trump firmly ahead of other Republican candidates like former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (8 percent), neurosurgeon Ben Carson (7 percent), and Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul (7 percent). Meanwhile, Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz only has 3 percent, putting him on par with former Senator Rick Santorum.

Trump also experienced the largest jump in support for any candidate when compared to a similar CNN poll conducted in May. At that time, Trump was polling at 3 percent, giving him a 9 percent increase month to month. Only Bush experienced experienced a similar uptick, attracting an additional 6 percent between May and June.

However, November 2016 is still a long way away, and other candidates may yet declare. New Jersey governor Chris Christie just threw his hat into the ring Tuesday. Also, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is still considering a White House bid.

And while Trump is getting support from voters, his business portfolio is already beginning to suffer. NBC recently announced they were dropping the Trump-produced Miss USA Pageant and removing Trump from “Celebrity Apprentice” after he made comments in his announcement speech calling Mexican immigrants criminals and “rapists.” Macy’s also cut ties with Trump, also citing his comments on Mexicans as the reason.

“We are disappointed and distressed by recent remarks about immigrants from Mexico,” Macy’s said in a statement. “We do not believe the disparaging characterizations portray an accurate picture of the many Mexicans, Mexican Americans and Latinos who have made so many valuable contributions to the success of our nation.”

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