The number of Republican voters who would like real estate mogul Donald Trump to be the Republican Party's candidate in the 2016 US presidential election has more than doubled in the last two months, a new poll revealed.
In its latest national poll, Fox News confirmed that Trump continued to gain ground as he received the backing of 26 percent of self-identified Republican primary voters, the highest level of support Trump has ever received.
This showed a huge increase from the 18 percent support he received in mid-July and 11 percent in June, Fox said. The billionaire business magnate also gained the highest number of support any GOP candidate has ever garnered since December 2013.
"Trump's rise hasn't hurt former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who garners 15 percent and is the only other Republican in double-digits. He was at 14 percent in mid-July and 15 percent in June," Fox said in a report released on Tuesday.
Citing survey results, Fox reported that 34 percent of Republican primary voters would "definitely" vote for Trump, who first attracted media attention for his inflammatory comments against Mexican migrant workers several weeks ago.
His remarks belittling the military service of 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain also put the spotlight on his White House bid, Fox News said.
Moreover, "the number who would 'never' support Trump dropped 26 percentage points: It was 59 percent in June and 33 percent now," Fox pointed in the same report.
The TV network said the new survey results showed that Trump is the favourite of some 33 percent of Tea Party movement members.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker trailed behind Trump and Bush at 9 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 7 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 6 percent each, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 5 percent apiece, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 3 percent each.
Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum followed the group with 2 percent support each, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal tied at 1 percent and former New York Gov. George Pataki, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore receive less than 1 percent support.
