Cruz tops Trump in new national GOP poll

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Donald Trump vs. Ted Cruz

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Donald Trump has been knocked from his perch atop the GOP presidential primary field by Sen. Ted Cruz, according to a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday evening.

The poll showed Sen. Cruz of Texas leading the New York businessman by two percentage points, 28-26, among Republican primary voters. Cruz’ lead is within the poll's 4.9 percent margin of error.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio came in third, garnering 17 percent, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Dr. Ben Carson and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

The survey was conducted following Saturday’s debate in South Carolina.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll's results contradict a Qunnipiac survey released earlier Wednesday that showed Trump lapping the rest of the Republican field with 39 percent compared to second-place candidate Marco Rubio’s 19 percent.

Fox News will release its new national poll, taken after Sunday, Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.