A new CBS News poll, conducted between April 27-29, reveals that former President Donald Trump is the leading contender among likely Republican primary voters for the 2024 presidential nomination.
What Happened: According to the poll, 73% of respondents are considering Trump, while 58% would vote for him if the primary were held today. The closest contender, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has 51% considering him, with 22% currently prepared to vote for him.
The poll shows that Trump's popularity stems from his past performance as president, his perceived ability to beat President Joe Biden, and his continued fight for people like the voters polled. Additionally, 61% of likely Republican primary voters say they would prefer a candidate who claims Trump won the 2020 election, further contributing to his popularity.
On the other hand, those not supporting Trump cite reasons such as him being too controversial, not liking him personally, and preferring other candidates more. Nonetheless, a majority of these voters do not feel a mismatch of views, nor do they want him criticized.
The poll also highlighted key issues that resonate with Republican primary voters, such as challenging "woke" ideas (85%) and opposing any gun restrictions (66%). A candidate's stance on these issues will likely be significant in the upcoming primaries.
Regarding the potential Republican nominee other than Trump, 37% of respondents prefer someone who shows loyalty to Trump, 56% prefer someone who doesn't talk about Trump either way, and a mere 7% prefer someone who criticizes Trump.
Among non-Trump supporters, 54% of respondents cite his controversial nature as a reason not to vote for him, with 50% disliking how he deals with political opponents. Furthermore, these voters tend to have higher education levels, with white non-college voters being almost 30 points more likely to support Trump than college-degree holders.
Why It Matters: Though the primaries are months away, Trump remains firmly in control of the conversation. That said, his nearest rival, DeSantis, was vocal in providing an answer why that may the case - it could just be because he hasn’t made it official - yet.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock
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