COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. John Kasich is showing stronger numbers in polling for the nation’s first presidential primary.

A new poll by American Research Group for the 2016 Republican race in the Granite State has Kasich at 13 percent, with real estate tycoon and reality TV star Donald Trump leading at 21 percent and Florida’s U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio second at 15 percent.

The difference between Rubio and Kasich is less than the poll’s margin of error at +/- 4 points.

The poll was conducted between Dec. 20-22 of a survey of 600 respondents.

While Kasich is in the top tier in New Hampshire, his numbers are still lagging nationally.

A new poll by CNN puts him tied for eighth place, with only 2 percent. Trump led the survey with 39 percent, followed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 18 percent and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Rubio, both at 10 percent.

The CNN survey was conducted from Dec. 17-21 from interviews of 927 respondents.

Kasich has been campaigning heavily in New Hampshire and is banking on a win there to boost his national profile. He logged his 45th town hall in the state this week, according to the Manchester Sun Times.