Forty percent of Iowa Republican voters say they have an unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Monday. But the are two other Republican presidential candidates who are more unpopular with GOP primary voters.
According to the poll, 45 percent of voters have an unfavorable opinion of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul while 44 percent don’t like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Trump, Paul and Christie got the most feisty in last week’s Republican debate.
Paul sparred with both Trump and Christie during the televised showdown.
“He buys and sells politicians of all stripes!” Paul said of Trump at the beginning of the debate.
“I don’t think you heard me,” Trump said dismissively of Paul at one point. “You’re having a hard time tonight.”
Arguing over the NSA during the debate, Paul also took a swing at Christie: “I don’t trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead.”
Christie told Paul at one point: “Senator, you know, when you’re sitting in a subcommittee, just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that.”
In terms of popularity, former neurosurgeon Ben Carson is the most popular of all the Republicans, according to the PPP poll, with 69 percent of Republican saying they have have a favorable impression.