Former President Trump has a slim lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical Republican primary, according to a new poll that revealed where potential GOP candidates stand in the early days of the heated race of 2024.
A new CNN poll polling likely Republican voters and Republican independents found that on a list of potential contenders for the 2024 GOP nomination, Trump leads with 40% of the vote and top candidate DeSantis has 36% support. While DeSantis is not officially in the race, the governor last caused a stir in 2024 after his book launch and private visits with top donors.
The poll found Trump leads DeSantis among likely Republican and Republican independent women by 40% to 32%. Florida’s governor was neck and neck with the former president among all registered voters, 39% to 37%.
The former president also received a 48% support among those aged 18 to 45, while DeSantis only received a 30% support among the age group. According to the poll, DeSantis Trump leads voters 40 and older, 40% to 35%.
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Former President Trump was the first candidate to officially enter the 2024 race, announcing his candidacy in November 2022. (Brandon Bell)
Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence both received 6% of the vote, while every other potential candidate on the list, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, got less than 2. % support.
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Combining the respondents’ first and second choices for the GOP nomination, DeSantis led the group of possible contenders with 65% support, Trump placed second with 59% support, Pence was the top candidate with 22%, Haley received 15% of the vote, and Pompeo received 9%.
Nearly 60% of likely GOP voters seek a candidate who shares their views on important issues, with more than 41% preferring the candidate most likely to defeat President Biden if he seeks another term.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not officially entered the 2024 presidential race. (Scott Olson)
In terms of candidate qualities, 87% of likely-Republican and Republican-leaning independents said they prefer a candidate with sharpness and stamina, 59% believe it is essential for a candidate to pledge to pay Social Security and Medicare kept as they are, 57% seek a candidate who will represent the GOP’s future, and 54% support government moves to oppose “awakened” values.
The economy was the top concern for 32% of Republican and Republican independent respondents, immigration was the most pressing issue for 16%, and 13% believe the quality of candidates is most important when choosing a candidate to vote for. Nearly 10% said foreign policy is the most important issue, 7% government size or spending, and 7% said issues related to values, morals and rights.
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The CNN survey was conducted from March 8 to March 12 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Aubrie Spady is a freelance production assistant for Fox News Digital.