The Republican primary is basically a four-way tie now


Donald Trump's national lead has dwindled to almost nothing at all, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll out Tuesday. Trump leads with only 30 percent of likely Republican primary voters nationally, with Ted Cruz right on his heels at 27 percent. John Kasich is not far behind, at 22 percent, and Marco Rubio is last and only 10 points behind Trump, at 20 percent.
The poll also finds that Trump was the preferred pick for 36 percent of Republican primary voters in states that have already voted. In the states that have yet to vote, the competition is a lot tighter, with Trump at 27 percent followed by Cruz at 25 percent, Kasich at 24 percent, and Rubio at 23 percent.
The poll also found that if the race becomes a one-on-one between Trump and any of the other three Republicans, Trump's opponent would have a leg up. Even in a hypothetical matchup against Rubio, Trump would lose 56 to 43 percent.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The survey of 397 Republican primary voters lasted Thursday through Sunday, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.92 percent.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Quiz of The Week: 30 August – 5 September
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A quick escape, an underground classroom, and more
-
The Week Unwrapped: What does Bake Off say about Channel 4?
Podcast Plus, why are Scottish drug deaths so stubbornly high? And are women in their 30s too anxious about their eggs?
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer