Iowa Poll: Many Republicans still believe Barack Obama was not born in U.S.
For years, businessman and media personality Donald Trump pushed the falsehood that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
He even sent investigators to Hawaii in 2011 to research the issue, and when Obama ultimately produced the long-form birth certificate, Trump claimed credit for forcing him to do so.
Now the front-runner in the Republican race to succeed Obama as president, Trump apparently remains unconvinced. When asked about Obama's provenance by CNN’s Anderson Cooper in July, he replied, "I don't know. I really don't know."
Turns out a majority of Iowa’s likely Republican caucusgoers — 59 percent — share Trump’s skepticism.
MORE:
- Iowa Poll: Where's Trump's GOP support? Almost everywhere
- Iowa Poll: Clinton leads, but Sanders draws near
- Iowa Poll: Trump blazes to lead; Carson quietly rises
The new Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics Iowa Poll asked: “Do you believe Barack Obama was born in the United States or not?
Just 42 percent say yes, he was born in the U.S., with the remainder divided between those who express confidence he was not (35 percent) and those who do not know (24 percent).
Among Trump’s supporters, though, even more believe Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. (46 percent); 25 percent aren’t sure; and 29 percent say he was born in the U.S.
Democratic caucusgoers don’t share Republicans’ doubts: 91 percent say Obama was born in the U.S., 3 percent say not in the U.S. and 6 percent aren’t sure.