Poll: Trump leads Cruz by 4 points in NC

Donald Trump is clutching a narrow lead in North Carolina’s GOP presidential primary, according to a new poll.

Trump is only 4 points ahead of other Republican White House hopefuls in the High Point University survey released Monday.

{mosads}The outspoken billionaire commands 26 percent voter support, edging past Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and his 22 percent.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) ranks third with 20 percent, making him the last GOP contender with double digit results in the Tar Heel State ahead of the March 15 primary.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson then takes fourth with 9 percent, while former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) places fifth at 3 percent. 

Rubio remains the most popular backup plan for North Carolina likely GOP primary voters. About 20 percent say he is their second choice, compared to 18 percent for Cruz.

Roughly 13 percent choose Trump as their alternative candidate, while 12 percent said Carson and 5 percent said Bush.

About 58 percent of those polled said “new ideas and a different approach” was the most important trait for potential presidents.

Approximately 31 percent said “experience and a proven record instead” was the criteria they were looking for.

High Point University conducted its latest survey of 477 likely GOP-primary voters in North Carolina via cell and landline phone interviews from Jan. 30-Feb. 4. It has a 4.5 percent margin of error.