Kasich rises to second in N.H. poll

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has overtaken a pack of Republicans chasing Donald Trump in New Hampshire and has surged into second place there, according to an American Research Group poll of the state released Tuesday.

Snow falls as Republican presidential candidate John Kasich arrives for a campaign stop to discuss alcohol and drug-free programs for the youth Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, in Plymouth, N.H.Read moreAP Photo/Jim Cole

by By Thomas Fitzgerald, POLITICS WRITER

Published Jan. 19, 2016, 7:06 p.m. ET

The survey showed Trump with 27 percent support, followed by Kasich at 20 percent. It was a significant jump for the Ohio governor over ARG polls in December and earlier this month, the latter of which had him tied with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 14 percent.

As Kasich rose, Rubio fell, to 10 percent in the new ARG poll, conducted from Jan. 15 to Jan. 18.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, whose competition with Trump has been the dominant story in the GOP race nationally, was at 9 percent support in the new poll, as was Gov. Christie of New Jersey. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had 8 percent.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was at 5 percent, while former high-tech executive Carly Fiorina and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson each had 2 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had 1 percent each.

Several other recent polls have picked up momentum for Kasich's candidacy in the Granite State.

His rise has been aided by his largely avoiding the intense cross fire among Rubio, Christie and Bush, said pollster Dick Bennett, president of the Manchester, N.H.-based ARG.

"At the moment, the results from this survey show John Kasich to be the beneficiary of the negative campaigning by the other candidates and their super PACs, and it signals that Kasich is first in line in New Hampshire to become the anti-Trump candidate," Bennett said.

The poll is based on telephone interviews with 600 registered voters who indicated they were likely to vote in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary Feb. 9. Of the sample, 331 were Republicans and 269 were undeclared voters, who are allowed to vote in either party's primary.

Results are subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

tfitzgerald@phillynews.com

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@tomfitzgerald