Republican voters give DeSantis a 14-point lead over Trump – a year before primaries begin

Another poll on Wednesday showed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is cementing his position as frontrunner in the hypothetical race for the Republican nomination in the 2024 race.

DeSantis has yet to declare he is running but he holds a 14-point lead over former President Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy last month, according to a Wall Street Journal poll.

It comes after the two leading names had contrasting fortunes in the midterm elections.

DeSantis was returned to the governor’s mansion in a landslide victory, while Trump was blamed by many in his party for disappointing results elsewhere.

‘It is going to be a competitive primary,’ said Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, who works for a pro-Trump super PAC and conducted the survey with Democratic pollster John Anzalone for the Journal. 

‘The two favorites right now would be Trump and DeSantis.’ 

Among likely primary voters, the poll found that 54 percent favored DeSantis, compared with 38 percent backing Trump.

That lead grows to 30 points among more moderate Republicans, although they tend to be a more marginal force in the primary process.

However, the 76-year-old former president beats DeSantis among those whose education does not run past high school, but the 44-year-old governor does better among the college educated, and among suburban and urban voters. 

There is more bad news for Trump.

The poll of 1500 registered voters found that DeSantis is viewed favorably by 43 percent compared with 36 percent for Trump, his lowest number in the past year.

Since March, his favorability among Republican voters has dropped from 85 percent to 74 percent. 

It comes as a slew of high-profile donors have questioned Trump’s ability to deliver victory for the party.

The former president has shouldered much of the blame for disappointing midterm results, and critics have questioned his selection of candidates — apparently favoring loyalty to him than electability — and his promotion strategy during campaigning. 

That has prompted a surge of calls for DeSantis to stand, representing both the next generation of Republican leader and a figure who has found a way to win new voters.

After winning the governorship narrowly in 2018, he swept to a double-digit victory in November.

He has discounted 2024 talk until now, although victory speech offered hints of a run. 

‘We have rewritten the political map,’ he said. ‘While our country flounders due to failed leadership in Washington, Florida is on the right track.’

Last weekend he met with top donors in Miami, although any announcement is not expected until Florida’s legislative session ends in May.

Other figures who have been laying the groundwork for a run include former Vice President Mike Pence. 

A hypothetical match-up between former president and vice president shows Trump coming out on top among likely GOP primary voters with 63 percent to 28 percent.