Carson less than 1 point behind Trump: Poll

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is only one point ahead of Ben Carson among GOP voters in North Carolina, according to a new poll.

An Elon University poll released Saturday shows that Trump leads the pack in the Tar Heel State with 21.5 percent support, which is followed closely by Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, who has currently 20.9 percent of support.

Businesswoman Carly Fiorina with 9.9 percent is in the third place and Sen. Marco Rubio with 7.4 percent comes fourth followed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush with 7 percent, according to the poll.

Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas is in the sixth place holding 6.7 percent of support among voters, the poll showed.

The Elon University Poll conducted a live-caller, dual frame (landline and cell phone) survey of 1,258 residents of North Carolina between September 17 and September 21, 2015.

Although the Trump continues to dominate the crowded Republican field, Carson appears to have broader appeal among people.

American Muslims fear that a new wave of Islamophobia is spreading across the United States, fueled by comments made by Trump and Carson.

Followers of the Islamic faith in the US have responded with a mix of frustration, exasperation and anger to the Islamophobic views expressed by leading GOP candidates that many say are stoking anti-Muslim tensions in the country.

Carson said last Sunday that Muslims were unfit for the US presidency, but noted on Monday that he would support a Muslim candidate who rejects the basic tenets of Islam and places the US constitution above his religion.

Trump has failed to challenge comments made on September 18 by a supporter who described US President Barack Obama as a Muslim and a foreigner.

Many of America’s approximately 3 million Muslims say such tensions could increase during a US presidential race that they fear is already injecting anger and bigotry.

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