Initial poll puts Trump on top in Oregon

A statewide poll of Oregon's likely Republican voters showed Donald Trump is the odds-on favorite to win the May 17 primary election.

The poll of 555 voters was conducted by the Hoffman Research Group and released Thursday.

Trump garnered 43 percent of Republican support, followed by 26 percent for Texas Senator Ted Cruz and 17 percent for Ohio Governor John Kasich.

While Trump had the highest favorable ranking, the candidate — who has at times drawn rancor for his remarks about women and minorities — also had the highest unfavorable marks.

Yet, Trump had the highest number of supporters who said they would not change their mind about who they're voting for.

Seventeen percent of respondents said they had never heard of Kasich, who made campaign stops in Portland and Medford on Thursday.

Of the voters surveyed, 50 percent were over the age of 55. Sixty-three percent of respondents were from Central, Eastern and Southern Oregon.

gfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6653. Follow on Twitter@GordonRFriedman