Poll: Trump trumps others in GOP race

WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) -- Early in the 2012 election cycle, U.S. business mogul Donald Trump has an edge over the presumptive favorites, a Rasmussen Report survey indicated Thursday.

The survey of likely Republican primary voters found Trump garnered 19 percent support, ahead of former governors Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, with 17 percent, and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, 15 percent.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia tied for fourth place with 9 percent each, followed by Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, with 8 percent. Rounding out the list are former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, with 5 percent, and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, 3 percent, results indicated.

In January, Romney led the pack among likely primary voters with 24 percent support, Rasmussen said.

Results are based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,000 likely Republican primary voters conducted Tuesday. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.