Trump's GOP Debate Boycott Linked to Decrease in Support Among Republican Voters, Indicates News Poll

Former President Trump’s decision not to participate in the recent GOP debate seems to have led to a decrease in his popularity among Republican primary voters, according to a recent poll by Emerson College.

What Happened: A report by The Hill on Monday highlighted that the Emerson College poll recorded a drop in support for Trump among Republican primary voters following his decision to pass on the first GOP debate.

The poll, conducted on August 25-26, indicated a 6% decrease, with 50% of GOP primary voters intending to vote for Trump, down from 56% in a pre-debate poll. This represents the lowest support for Trump recorded by an Emerson poll to date.

While Trump’s support saw a dip, several other candidates experienced a slight surge in support post-debate. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley saw the most significant increase, with her support rising from 2% to 7%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ support increased by 2 percentage points, reaching 12%, and former Vice President Mike Pence’s support rose from 3% to 7%.

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Despite 27% of voters believing that Vivek Ramaswamy emerged victorious, his support fell from 10% to 9%. The poll covered 1,000 registered voters and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Trump, who continues to lead in many national polls, has indicated that he plans to not participate in future debates. He chose to record an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson instead of attending the first debate.

Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling’s Executive Director, commented on the poll’s findings, saying, "While Trump saw a slight dip in support, the question from this poll is whether this is a blip for Trump or if the other Republican candidates will be able to rally enough support to be competitive for the caucus and primary season."

Why It Matters: Trump’s lead among Republican voters had been growing even after a fourth indictment against him.

Despite his recent arrest and arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse, his dominance was evident in the Republican presidential nomination race, overshadowing Florida Governor DeSantis.

However, Trump’s decision to opt out of the party’s inaugural debate might be leading to an erosion of his stronghold within the Republican base. The current shift in voter sentiment could potentially open up the field for other contenders to gain ground in the run-up to the primary season.

Photo by Evan El-Amin on Shutterstock

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