Not sure about CNN/ORC but I really am suspicious of Reuters and PPP.
One thing, at least one thing, to watch for is the mix of Republicans and Independents “leaning Republican” in the poll. That mix can make a huge change in the results. And many polls utilize Independents in both Republican and Democrat polling.
Personally I would like to see them poll “Republican Primary Voters” exclusively.
This is not a popularity contest in the conventional sense. We are trying to predict the winners and losers in the upcoming Primaries. Do Independents get to vote in the Republican Primary? I doubt it but I don’t really know. But if they don’t then what are they doing in the poll?
But Trump recently lauded PPP.
BTW, it was the recent PPP poll for North Carolina that Trump seemed to act as if was the bees knees.
But I don’t remember him saying anything about PPP when CNN had him at a decent % a little while back, but near the same time PPP had him at 17=18%. Maybe I missed him saying something about PPP then...
“Do Independents get to vote in the Republican Primary? I doubt it but I don’t really know. But if they don’t then what are they doing in the poll?”
Varies from state to state. There is plenty of misinformation thrown around, on forums.
For example the idea that non-Republicans influence results, because of so many “open primaries” is something I researched and found to be untrue.