Two new polls in key states have found that former President Donald Trump is no longer the favorite to win the Republican nominee, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to have the lead.
The surveys were conducted from March 21 to 23 by the top Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies and published by Axios. The results show that in Iowa, DeSantis is leading Trump by eight points (45%-37%), and in New Hampshire, the two are tied at 39%.
Trump and DeSantis have continued to go back and forth for months, with the former president leading the feud between the two.
DeSantis, who has yet to announce he is running for president in 2024, has continued to be a top prospect in the party, despite Trump announcing his campaign in the days following the midterm election.
Before the 2022 midterms, Trump started distancing himself from the Florida governor, calling him playground nicknames and taking shots at the work he has done in his state.
DeSantis has responded, saying he isn’t giving the insults much attention but that he kind of likes the clever nicknames.
“It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media. It’s not accomplishing anything for the people I represent,” DeSantis told Piers Morgan in an interview. “So, we really just focus on knocking out victories, day after day, and if I got involved in all the undertow, I would not be able to be an effective governor.”
The polls from Public Opinion Strategies showed that other candidates and potential candidates in the field are far below the two heavyweights.
In Iowa, the polls showed that DeSantis is leading all candidates when voters were asked whether he was favorable or unfavorable (81% -11%). Following DeSantis were Trump (74%-24%), Nikki Haley (60%-19%), and former Vice President Mike Pence (59%-35%).
Results showed the same order in New Hampshire, with DeSantis having a favorability rating of 77%-15%, compared to Trump at 69%-29%, Haley at 54%-23%, and Pence at 50%-43%.
The surveys also showed that when it came to who Republicans thought could take down President Joe Biden — should he run for reelection — many weren’t sure who was the right candidate.
The New Hampshire poll found that despite being the strongest prospective candidate for the party, only 48% think he is the “best candidate to defeat Joe Biden.” Still, this is more than Trump, whom 46% believe is more electable than the other candidates.
Iowa Voters had a bit more belief in DeSantis, with 54% saying they think he is more electable than Biden, compared to 44% who hold the sentiment for Trump.
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