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Despite the influx of more presidential candidates, President Donald Trump has still maintained a solid lead over the other Republican primary contenders seeking the White House in 2024.
New polling data from Morning Consult has shown the 45th president leading his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by 34 points in the weeks following the launch of the governor’s campaign.
In the poll of 3,485 registered GOP voters, Trump led nationally with 56 percent support to 22 percent for DeSantis.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who will reportedly announce a presidential bid on June 7, took third with five percent, while former U.N. Ambassador and Gov. Nikki Haley, R-S.C., and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy tied with four percent.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., polled at three percent, with former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., at just two percent.
Trump and DeSantis also polled as the most popular candidates in the Republican Party. Trump was viewed favorably by 79 percent of Republicans, and DeSantis was viewed positively by 71 percent of Republicans.
Nonetheless, with more than seven months before the February Iowa caucus, support for candidates is always subject to change. One CNN/ORC Poll in May 2015 had Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush leading the pack of 2016 Republican primary candidates, including Donald Trump, by double-digits at one point.
Ultimately, Bush suspended his bid in February 2016 after an abysmal performance in South Carolina, and Rubio followed suit shortly thereafter following the massive loss of his home state to Trump.
However, Trump’s polling numbers are much higher compared to any other candidate from this point in 2015. His polling has seen a consistent trend forward, while DeSantis has moved in the opposite direction following his announcement.
However, when pitted against the unpopular Joe Biden, polling showed a much tighter election among both Republicans.
Trump tied Biden with 43 percent each, with five percent of respondents undecided, and 10 percent preferring someone else. Biden led DeSantis 43 percent to 40 percent, with seven percent undecided and nine percent preferring another.
Although polling will always continue to change, one certainty will be the closeness of 2024’s battle for control.
