Former President Donald Trump is gaining significant support in the Republican presidential nomination contest, according to a recent poll conducted from December 10-13, 2023. The survey revealed that 69% of GOP primary voters are backing Trump, representing a 7-point increase since November and a whopping 26-point surge since February.
The poll also outlined the preferences of other Republican contenders. Ron DeSantis received 12% support, Nikki Haley garnered 9%, Vivek Ramaswamy received 5%, Chris Christie secured 2%, and Asa Hutchinson obtained 1%.
Interestingly, when Trump supporters were asked about their second choice, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, and Haley emerged as the top contenders. This indicates that these three candidates have a chance to gain support if Trump were not to run for the presidency.
In hypothetical general election matchups against President Joe Biden, Haley appears to be ahead by 6 points, while Trump maintains a 4-point lead. Moreover, most 2020 Biden voters (83%) stick with him in a head-to-head matchup against Haley, while only 5% defect in a matchup against Trump.
Although Haley seems to have the broadest support among Republican candidates, the majority of Republicans still prefer Trump as their potential nominee. Even when third-party candidates are thrown into the mix, Trump maintains a 4-point advantage over Biden.
The poll also revealed that interest in the 2024 election is evenly balanced between the Democratic and Republican parties, with equal numbers of voters planning to participate in the primaries. However, within the Democratic party, a majority of primary voters expressed a desire for someone else to be their party’s nominee, while 43% wished to maintain Biden’s position.
While Biden’s overall approval rating stands at 43%, up from a low of 40% last month, 57% of voters disapprove of his job performance. His personal favorability is also a matter of concern, with 41% of voters having a positive opinion of him as a person, while 58% view him unfavorably.
Trump continues to maintain a strong positive rating among Republicans, with 85% viewing him favorably. However, ratings for Christie, Ramaswamy, DeSantis, and Haley are not as favorable among GOP voters.
Congressional Republicans have opened an impeachment inquiry into Biden, but voters remain divided on whether it is a legitimate action. A majority of Republicans believe Biden has engaged in illegal activities related to his son Hunter’s business dealings, while over half of Democrats think the president is innocent.
Overall, 38% of voters believe the president has done something illegal, 27% consider his actions unethical, and 32% believe he has done nothing wrong. However, two-thirds of voters believe that Hunter Biden is being treated fairly by the legal system.
The poll also highlighted that a significant number of voters view both Biden and Trump negatively. In a head-to-head matchup, these voters prefer Biden by 8 points.
Another noteworthy finding from the poll was that a record-breaking 57% of voters have a positive view of the healthcare law, including more than half of independents and a quarter of Republicans.
When it comes to the perception of following the law, most voters believe the president should “always” adhere to it. However, the poll revealed that twice as many 2024 Trump supporters as Biden supporters believe the country needs a president who is willing to break some laws.
Roughly equal numbers of voters consider Trump and Biden to pose a “major” threat to Americans’ individual rights and freedoms. Democrats tend to view Biden as more of a threat, while Republicans perceive Trump as a greater concern.
In conclusion, the poll illuminated the growing support for Donald Trump in the Republican presidential nomination contest. However, it also highlighted the potential for other candidates, such as Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Nikki Haley, to gain traction among Trump supporters. The poll unveiled mixed opinions on Biden’s performance, favorability, and potential illegal actions, leading to a divided electorate. With voters dreading a 2020 rematch between Trump and Biden, both candidates face significant challenges in winning over partisans and addressing concerns about individual rights and freedoms.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”