The Republican Party may have a new rising star in Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but former President Donald Trump still looms “huge” over the field. Despite DeSantis’ growing popularity and the official launch of Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, a recent poll by Emerson College shows that Trump maintains a substantial lead in the 2024 Republican primary. While anything can happen, it appears that unseating the former president from his throne won’t be easy.
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Love or hate him; there’s no denying that former President Donald Trump is still the heavyweight champion of the Republican Party. According to the Emerson poll, Trump holds 55% of the vote, almost doubling DeSantis, who holds 25%. Former Vice President Mike Pence holds 8%, while Haley has a measly 5%. But in a field that includes only officially declared candidates, Trump crushes Haley by a staggering 61 points.
While DeSantis still fares better head-to-head against Trump, recent polls show that the former president holds double-digit leads over DeSantis in several recent polls. A majority of those who support DeSantis on the preliminary ballot also support Trump on the declared ballot.
Despite Trump’s seemingly insurmountable lead over his rivals, DeSantis seems undeterred. As the governor of Florida, DeSantis has gained national attention for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, his tough stance on immigration, and his support for law enforcement. He has also been a vocal critic of the mainstream media and Big Tech, two issues that resonate with the conservatives.
DeSantis has been careful not to criticize Trump directly, but he has made it clear that he is his own man with his own ideas.
“I’m not a clone of anybody else,” he said in a recent interview. “I’m my own person, and I think my record shows that.”
One area where DeSantis has gained on Trump is in fundraising. According to reports, DeSantis has raised over $20 million for his political action committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, in the first quarter of 2021. This is a record-breaking amount for a non-presidential candidate in the first three months of an election cycle.
DeSantis’ growing popularity has not gone unnoticed by the media, with some pundits already touting him as a potential frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. High-profile conservatives like Fox News personality Tucker Carlson have also lauded him.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding DeSantis, it’s important to remember that the race is still in its early stages, and a lot can change between now and 2024. Trump remains a formidable opponent, with a loyal base of supporters who show no signs of abandoning him anytime soon.
One thing is clear: the Republican Party is at a crossroads, with a choice between the Trumpian wing and a new generation of conservatives like DeSantis. Whoever emerges victorious will determine the party’s future direction and possibly the nation’s fate.
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