Ohio Gov. John Kasich leads GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump by 5 points in Mr. Kasich’s home state, according to a poll released on the eve of the March 15 primary there.
Mr. Kasich had the support of 40 percent of likely GOP primary voters in Ohio in the Monmouth University poll released Monday, followed by Mr. Trump at 35 percent.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was at 15 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was at 5 percent.
“The Ohio race is tight, but with Rubio floundering in Florida, Kasich could potentially bolster his standing as the establishment’s alternative to Trump and Cruz with a win here,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The Monmouth survey, conducted Friday to Sunday, is about in line with other recent polling on the Buckeye State; the latest Real Clear Politics average shows Mr. Kasich with a slight edge over Mr. Trump there.