BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An independent poll of Alabama’s Republican presidential primary shows billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump with a large lead heading into the state’s March 1st primary, with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in second and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) in third.
The “flash survey” conducted by Master Image, a Homewood-based political consulting firm, shows Donald Trump with 36% support. Rubio is at 19% and Cruz is at 12%. 17% of voters remain undecided with less than a week to go.
Master Image polled the race last month as well. Since then, Trump has risen by 2%, Rubio is up 6%, and Cruz has dropped 4%.
“Trump’s popularity in Alabama continues the trend we see elsewhere,” said Joe Sanders, President and owner of Master Image, Inc. “Trump’s numbers in Alabama appear to be a few points lower than other southern states, but in line with what should happen on March 1, considering almost one in five voters remain undecided.
“Behind Trump, Marco Rubio places second in the state, and does well in urban/suburban communities and counties such as Mountain Brook (29%), Mobile (22%), and Houston (22%) counties, while Cruz finds strength in Shelby (19%) and Madison counties (14%). John Kasich and Ben Carson are gaining little ground in Alabama and their numbers are flat. I think it is obvious the Bush voters have moved to Rubio, as I would predict Carson and Kasich voters were those candidates not in the race.
“Trump is appealing highly in Elmore County (49%), where there is a high profile congressional race with a notable tea party conservative candidate,” Sanders continued. “Trump also hits over 40% in Walker County (46%) and in the Bessemer Cutoff (43%) of Jefferson Count.”
The phone survey was conducted February 24th with 1,556 active Republican primary voters, and has a +/-4.2% margin of error. Master Image is not affiliated with any of the presidential campaigns and the survey was not commissioned by any candidate or campaign committee.
Senator Rubio is scheduled to be in both Birmingham and Huntsville on Saturday. Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Huntsville on Sunday. No other Republican candidates are currently scheduled to campaign in the state ahead of the March 1st primary.
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