Since July 2023, former President Donald Trump has increased his lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) by 20 points nationally, according to a poll.
The poll, which was published on Oct. 4, 2023, shows that 56% of registered Republicans and independents support Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, marking a 10-point increase in support for the former president since a Marquette poll from July 2023, which showed him at 46%.
📊 2024 National Republican Primary
Trump 56% (+10)
DeSantis 12% (-10)
Haley 6% (=)
Ramaswamy 4% (+3)
Pence 4% (-3)
Scott 2% (-2)
Christie 1% (=)[Change vs July]@MULawPoll (A/B) | 384 RV | 9/18-25https://t.co/RuZ1oRT0pk pic.twitter.com/amE5kpjkPp
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) October 5, 2023
Unlike Trump, DeSantis, who is also running for president, has seen his polling numbers decrease by 10 points since July 2023, as reported by Breitbart News. The Florida governor currently holds 12% support, marking a 20-point swing from DeSantis to Trump in just over two months.
DeSantis not only has to worry about Trump as he seeks to try and win the Republican nomination for president, but he also must take into account that his presidential campaign is strapped for cash.
Breitbart News recently reported that DeSantis’ campaign only has $5 million it can use for GOP primary purposes, as the campaign moves 30% of its staff to Iowa. Trump’s campaign isn’t as strapped for cash as DeSantis’s. The former president garnered $45.5 million in the third fundraising quarter compared to DeSantis’s $15 million.
DeSantis finds himself in second place behind Trump in polls, but his lead over other candidates isn’t as broad as the former president’s. Behind him is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) with less than 10% support and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is tied with former Vice President Mike Pence in fourth place with even less support than Haley.
The Marquette University poll also conducted a hypothetical general election match-up between Trump and President Joe Biden, which showed the former president leading with registered voters at 51%, whereas Biden had a 50% advantage among likely voters.
Trump has repeatedly cited his ever-increasing poll numbers as the reason for him not attending any GOP debates.
The former president’s support hasn’t wavered despite being entangled in a series of legal issues. Instead, Trump has seen his lead widen with every indictment he’s received by the Biden administration’s weaponized Department of Justice (DOJ).
