PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. A political science expert and pollster explains how the charges, stemming from the alleged cover-up of a sex scandal in 2016, are affecting his standing in the 2024 Republican primary.
Muhlenberg College pollster and political science professor Chris Borick says recent polling, done before the indictment and statement of facts were unsealed, shows Donald Trump’s lead over Florida Gov. Ron Desantis widening. However, among all voters, Trump isn’t seeing much of a change in polling, Borick said.
“It seems that at this moment, the former president has been able to capitalize among the Republican electorate with some sympathy and some anger about the charges that have been brought for him,” Muhlenberg College’ Chris Boric said.
Borick says some of that rise in polls may be among Republicans who aren’t necessarily loyal to Trump but agree with his narrative of government overreach and see the indictment as a move by an ambitious prosecutor.
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Borick says it’s too early to say if that support will last through next year’s primary.
“How long it will last? How sufficient it is, you know, in the broader scope — does it insulate him when and if further charges come in a number of these other active cases that are out there — remains to be seen.”
But Trump is most unique in his ability to weather storms that would sink any other candidacy, the professor said.
Given the underlying circumstances — allegations of payoffs to an adult film star to block publicity on an affair — Borick said he can’t think of another politician in American history who could remain a viable candidate amid a criminal indictment.
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