45th President Donald Trump holds a decisive lead over a field of potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates in Iowa which is the first state to caucus in the presidential primaries.
A Neighborhood Research and Media poll showed Trump in the lead with nearly 56 percent in the Hawkeye State, a staunch hold over his closet rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not yet indicated interest in running for president.
DeSantis, with 12.3 percent, was the only Republican besides Trump to break double digits in a hypothetical primary election. Gov. Kristi Noem (S.D) took third place with 2.1 percent, though she has ruled out running for president, planning to remain as governor instead. Former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley each received one percent according to the poll. Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), who won the 2016 GOP Iowa caucus, received less than one percent, along with Sens. Tim Scott (S.C.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.).
More than 20 percent of Republicans were undecided.
Although Trump has not formally revealed whether or not he will run for president, he hinted that he will likely announce his presidential plans after the 2022 midterms, repeatedly teasing that “a lot of people will be happy” with his decision.
Trump also held a rally with thousands of supporters in Des Moines in October amid speculation that he would run again.
If Trump wins the 2024 GOP nomination, it is possible he could again face Joe Biden if he runs for re-election. Biden holds an exceedingly low 33 percent approval rating in Iowa, while nearly two-thirds disapprove of him, according to a Des Moines Register poll from last week. In a 2024 hypothetical matchup between Trump and Biden, Trump defeated him 51 percent to 40 percent, a three percent increase from Trump’s eight point victory over Biden last year.
If Biden, who will be 81 years old on Election Day in 2024, decides against running for re-election, Kamala Harris could seek the 2024 Democratic nomination.