In a recent Harvard and Harris poll, Trump has increased his lead in the GOP primary by 3 points, with 60% of Republican voters expressing their support for him. In contrast, DeSantis continues to lag behind at 11%. Trump appears poised to secure the GOP nomination, but can an independent candidate step up to challenge his bid for the White House?
Biden’s Approval Ratings Are Stagnant
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According to the recent Harvard/Harris Poll, Biden’s approval ratings have remained stagnant for over a year, with most voters not happy with how Biden has handled inflation, immigration, and dealing with violence and crime in the country.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Favorable
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Trump’s favorability was tied with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, both ranking at 49% net favorability. However, far fewer voters disapproved of the independent candidate over Trump. Biden’s favorability was at 45%.
Trump Leads in Poll for Presidential Race
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When voters were polled about their preference in a potential Trump vs. Biden rematch, 45% indicated they would choose Trump, whereas only 41% expressed a preference for Biden. An additional 14% stated that they were undecided about their choice for President.
More Than Half Would Consider an Independent
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When presented with the scenario of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee and Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, voters were queried about their willingness to contemplate an independent, moderate candidate running for the presidency in 2024. Most respondents indicated their willingness to consider voting for such a candidate in the event of a rematch.
Both Parties Would Like Another Choice
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A significant majority of Democrats (68%) and Republicans (57%) expressed that having an alternative candidate instead of Trump and Biden as their party’s leading nominees would benefit the country.
Majority Believe Biden and Trump Should Not Run
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Additionally, most voters from both parties agreed that Trump and Biden should not pursue another run for office.
Current Independent Polls Low
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When voters were asked who they would currently vote for in a Presidential election between Biden, Trump, and RFK Jr., 39% of the voters polled voted for Trump, and 33% voted for Biden. The current independent candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., only had 19% support.
Independents Say Biden Is Worsening as President
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Among Democratic voters, 52% believed that Biden’s performance as President showed signs of improvement, while an equivalent percentage of Independent and other voters felt that his performance was deteriorating.
Biden’s Fitness for Office a Concern
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An overwhelming majority of both Republican and Independent voters harbored apprehensions regarding Biden’s suitability for the office, with more than 70% of independent voters expressing concerns about his age as a potential hindrance to his role as President.
GOP Is Divided Over Ousted Speaker
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The Republican party was also showing significant divisions over the recent outing of the former Speaker. While 50% of GOP voters believed that McCarthy’s ousting was orchestrated to promote the careers of fellow Republicans, only 39% thought it was aimed at reducing government spending.
DeSantis Remains an Unlikely Candidate
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As Trump maintains a commanding lead in the polls, the prospect of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerging as a viable candidate appears increasingly unlikely.
Trump Dominating Polls in Iowa GOP Race
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In a recent Iowa poll conducted by J. Ann Selzer, DeSantis continues to lag behind his rival, Trump, who now enjoys a substantial lead of nearly 30 points over his closest Republican opponents in the state. Moreover, two-thirds of likely GOP voters appear to downplay the seriousness of his various lawsuits.
DeSantis Could Leave Trump With Serious Lead
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Additionally, if DeSantis were to withdraw from the Presidential race, he could potentially hand Trump a commanding lead of nearly 50% in Republican votes in the state, should those votes be consolidated.
Republicans Consistently Think Trump Shouldn’t Face Charges
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The issue lies in the fact that Republican voters have remained steadfast in their views regarding the various indictments against Trump. A recent ABC News survey revealed that fewer than one in four Republicans believe that Trump should have faced charges.
Trump Shouldn’t Be Held Accountable
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Despite the various charges against the former president, including his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and allegations of mishandling classified documents, the overwhelming majority of Republicans do not believe Trump should be held accountable.
The Capitol Attack Concerned Voters Least
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The Harvard/Harris Poll also reaffirmed earlier surveys by indicating that the January 6th Capitol attack and defense were the two issues of least concern for voters. Meanwhile, worries about rising prices and inflation, immigration, the economy, and job prospects continued to rank among voters’ top concerns.
Is Trump Becoming a Martyr?
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A user posted in reaction to the former President’s lead in the polls online, “Trump is becoming a martyr and polls are reflecting that. If really ends up in jail he will poll in 80s.”
DeSantis’ Mismanagement of Campaign
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“There’s gonna be political science papers studying how DeSantis just blew up his campaign. Dude was the shining star, and somehow managed to mismanage almost every aspect of his candidacy,” another user wrote.
Terrifying Prospects: 12 Moves Trump Could Unleash If Re-elected in 2024
