Trump Owns The Midwest, Leads GOP Rivals In Iowa and Missouri

A pair of polls released on Monday and Tuesday, show Donald Trump is in command of the nation’s heartland in the GOP race. Trump holds large leads over his nearest competitors in both Iowa and Missouri, according to two Public Policy Polling (PPP) surveys released on August 10th and 11th.

In Iowa, Trump is polling 19 percent, outdistancing his nearest competitors, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson each by 7 percentage points. In Missouri, Trump owns a double digit lead. Trump is polling at 23 percent support, with Ben Carson and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, tying for second place, at 11 percent each.

Polls in both states show that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is losing steam and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is absolutely tanking. On the other hand, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina, two candidates, who like Trump, have never held elected office, are gaining support. GOP voters in the two Midwest states seem dissatisfied with current office holders, and more inclined to support a non-establishment candidate who will give voice to their discontent.

Trump’s strong showing in each state is apt to give Republican National Chairman Reince Preibus ulcers, but the fact remains that Donald Trump is still in command of the GOP race for president. Every other candidate lags well behind him. In the Midwest, it is evident that Donald Trump is still dominating the Republican field.

In Missouri, Trump’s double digit lead is buttressed by the fact that he holds a lead with every significant GOP demographic group. Trump leads among young voters and seniors, male voters and women, and with both self-identified moderates and conservatives.

In head to head races against the Democratic candidates, Trump trails both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in Iowa, while he holds a clear advantage over each Democrat in Missouri. Interestingly, if Trump fails to get the GOP nomination, he could do serious damage to the Republicans in the Show Me State, running as an Independent. In a hypothetical three-way contest involving Clinton, Trump and Jeb Bush, Donald Trump would lose Missouri to Clinton 34 to 30, but finish ahead of Jeb Bush who polls 29 percent in that scenario.

The Iowa and Missouri post-debate polls reveal that Donald Trump remains in a strong position atop the GOP field in two key Midwest states. While Trump may eventually fade, there is no evidence that he is faltering yet. Right now, Donald Trump owns the Midwest in the race for the Republican nomination.

Keith Brekhus

Keith Brekhus is a progressive American who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri. In 2002, he ran for Congress as a Green Party candidate in the state of Missouri. In 2014, he worked as a field organizer for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful re-election bid in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus or on Facebook.