Poll: Trump leads in Oklahoma days before Super Tuesday

With less than a week before election day, Donald Trump is widening his lead in Oklahoma's Republican primary race, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The real estate mogul is holding an eight-point lead over Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, with 29 percent to Rubio's 21 percent, according to the poll. That lead has widened from just 5 percent two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Rubio has overtaken Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who was in second place two weeks ago with 25 percent. Cruz polled at 20 percent in this week's poll.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson came in fourth, with 6 percent, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich was fifth, with 5 percent. Another 18 percent told pollsters they remained undecided, and 2 percent said they planned to vote for another candidate.

The poll was conducted by Cole Hargrave Snodgrass and Associates, an Oklahoma City-based polling firm, on Monday and Tuesday. Pollsters contacted 400 Republican likely voters by cell phone and land line. The poll has a margin for error of 4.9 percent.

"Trump's lead relies on men, national security issue voters and those focused on individual liberties," said pollster Pat McFerron. "Trump performs
best among lower income households, those over 45 and those with a history of rarely voting in Republican primaries, though there is statistical tie among the top three candidates among the most reliable primary voters."

The largest share of voters — 31 percent — told pollsters they were most concerned about national security issues, such as fighting terrorism and maintaining the strength of the military. Another 29 percent said they were most concerned with economic issues like taxes and jobs.

Oklahoma will hold its Democratic and Republican presidential primaries on March 1.