In a Republican primary matchup between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, DeSantis wins by 24 points in a hypothetical field of nine candidates, a new poll found.
The Wednesday WPA Intelligence survey revealed that 40 percent of GOP primary voters across the country favour DeSantis to be the party’s nominee for the White House in 2024.
Only 31 percent said Trump was their top pick. No other Republican candidate polled in double digits, according to the New York Post.
The margin between the former president and the Florida governor increased further when primary voters were asked to choose between Trump and DeSantis, with only 33 percent picking Trump versus 57 percent choosing DeSantis.
“President Trump is still liked by most Republicans, but our primary voters are pragmatic,” WPA Intelligence founder and CEO Chris Wilson told the Post. “They like his policies but feel the party needs a new face and leader.”
Close to three-quarters (73 percent) of those polled said DeSantis was one of their top three choices for the Republican pick. But only 52 percent said the same about Trump.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who declared her candidacy earlier in the month, was tied at 8 percent support along with former Vice President Mike Pence.
Haley and Trump were the only candidates to have officially announced campaigns when the poll was conducted early in the week. On Tuesday, a third candidate entered the race, Vivek Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur and conservative political activist.
Other candidates in the poll included former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). Each received support of 5 percent or less.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)