Washington: US Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump, despite his defeat in Iowa Caucus, has consolidated his lead over his main rival Ted Cruz in New Hampshire where the primary elections are scheduled next week, a latest poll said today.
According to a new poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts-Lowell / 7 News survey, Trump has the support of 38 per cent of the likely Republican primary voters.
Cruz, who inflicted a stunning defeat in the Iowa Caucus on Monday, is a distant second with 14 per cent, followed by the rising star Marco Rubio with 12 per cent. The Senator from Florida, Rubio came a close third in Iowa surprising many with his performance. He is now being billed as a establishment candidate for the Republican.
On the other hand, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is leading with a huge margin of 29 per cent against Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton.
While Sanders gets 61 per cent in the poll and Clinton gets 32 per cent. Only five percent of voters remain undecided, the poll said.
Meanwhile, Trump alleged that Cruz committed fraud during Iowa Caucus.
“Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified,” he tweeted.
In a series of tweets, Trump alleged that the Voter Violation certificate gave poor marks to the unsuspecting voter(grade of F) and told them to clear it up by voting for Cruz.
“Fraud,” he said. “And finally, Cruz strongly told thousands of caucus goers (voters) that Trump was strongly in favour of Obama Care and “choice” – a total lie!,” he said.
“Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!,” Trump said. There was no immediate response from Cruz.