A new poll from Illinois shows candidate Donald Trump retaining a sizable lead amid the top tier candidates.  2,104 voters polled (margin of error 2.5%):

(Chicago Sun Times) Trump, at 30 percent, is the top GOP presidential candidate in Illinois, according to a new poll, with double the points of Sens. Ted Cruz at 15 percent and Marco Rubio at 13 percent.

[…] GOP pollster Joe Caccitolo, who runs Compass Consulting, conducted the automated telephone survey of 2,104 likely Republican voters last Wednesday, the day after the fifth Republican debate in Las Vegas. More on the methodology below.

After Trump and the senators from Texas and Florida, in Illinois it’s former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 7 percent; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 6 percent; Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 3 percent; former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 2 percent.

Asked, “if the primary election for president was held today, for whom would you vote,” 11 percent were undecided.

And while the entire field consists of other contenders not included in the poll — South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham; former New York Gov. George Pataki; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum — only 2 percent said their choice was for another candidate. (read more)