Donald Trump continues to have a low favorability score among Americans, new polling shows, despite being the likely Republican nominee after winning the lion’s share of primaries and seeing off his only remaining rival.
An ABC News/Ipsos survey of 536 U.S. adults, conducted between March 8-9, found that 29 percent have a favorable view of the former president compared to 59 percent who view him unfavorably.
It came after Trump secured all but one of the primaries on Super Tuesday—giving him 1,075 out of 1,215 delegates he needs to become the presumptive Republican nominee—which prompted former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley to drop out of the race to leave him unopposed. Primaries being held on Tuesday could push Trump over the line.
Trump’s popularity has remained largely unchanged since last summer. In similar polls conducted last year, which have a margin of error of 4.5 percent either way, he has hovered around a 30 percent favorability rating.
An ABC News/Ipsos survey of 536 U.S. adults
Only 536? How is this newsworthy?
That’s how random samples work. A small number like that is enough to get a decent estimate of the entire population. Give ar take a percentage point if three. That is, if the sample is actually random. That’s actually near impossible to guarantee, as people who pick up their phones (or answer their door, or walk in the street and allow folks to ask them a question, or answer a letter) are different from those who don’t.
Still, that’s not a great sample for a nationwide poll. Many are closer to 2000 or even 6000.