Poll: If Trump Runs As Independent, Hillary Clinton Crushes Competition
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - While Republican presidential candidates have been fending off attacks by their fellow Republican candidate Donald Trump, they had better hope he doesn't "go rogue."
A new McClatchy-Marist poll finds that if Trump ran as an independent, Hillary Clinton would trounce him, and the GOP nominee.
The poll finds that Clinton leads former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush 49-43 in a two-way race. But if Trump ran as an independent, Clinton remains on top with 44 percent, Bush gets 29 percent and Trump 20 percent.
"The 2016 election cycle has already had its share of ups and downs," says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "But, what a rollercoaster ride it would be if Donald Trump runs for president as an independent."
According to the poll, in a two-way match, Clinton beats Senators Marco Rubio and Rand Paul by five percent in a general election and Bush by six percent.
Clinton receives her highest head-to-head numbers - 54 percent - if Trump is the nominee.
For complete poll results, click here.
