Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are neck and neck in the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. A Quinnipiac University national poll released this week shows Trump with a narrow lead of 47% to DeSantis’s 44% among GOP voters in Florida.
When Biden is matched up against DeSantis, it’s a virtual dead heat — Biden receives 47% and DeSantis receives 46% among all registered voters. Despite Trump’s surge in support among GOP voters, President Joe Biden narrowly leads him in a race between the two potential nominees. 49% of registered voters indicated they would vote for Biden, while 45% indicated they would vote for Trump.
Trump and DeSantis have been engaged in a personal rivalry in recent weeks. In response to Pence’s remarks, Trump accused the former vice president of being responsible for the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, due to his decision to certify the election results.[0] Trump said he regretted endorsing DeSantis during his 2018 bid for governor and unleashed several attacks on him during a recent speech in Iowa.[1] DeSantis has not yet announced a run for the White House but is rumored to be launching a campaign once Florida’s legislative session has concluded.[2]
The figures come as the rivalry between Trump and DeSantis appears to be heating up. This week, a super PAC linked to the ex-president lodged a grievance with the Florida Commission on Ethics, asserting that DeSantis is running an unlawful “shadow presidential campaign” which breaches state and federal law.[3] Trump has also accused DeSantis of wanting to “decimate” Social Security and comparing him to Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee.[4]
Meanwhile, President Biden has repeatedly indicated intentions to run for reelection but has made no official announcement.[5] A poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post earlier this year revealed that only 31% of Democrats want Joe Biden to be re-nominated by the party, while 58% would prefer a different candidate.[2]
It remains to be seen whether Trump and DeSantis will continue their verbal sparring in the weeks to come. For now, it appears that the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 is shaping up to be a battle between the two.
0. “Trump says DeSantis “probably” his biggest challenger as he makes first Iowa trip” CBS News, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-makes-first-trip-to-iowa-as-declared-2024-candidate/
1. “Trump and DeSantis Neck and Neck in Biden Matchup: Poll” Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/trump-desantis-neck-neck-biden-matchup-poll-1787827
2. “Trump leads DeSantis but loses to Biden in new poll” WWJ, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/trump-leads-desantis-but-loses-to-biden-in-new-poll
3. “Trump holds just three-point lead over DeSantis among Florida Republicans in new poll” The Hill, 17 Mar. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3903754-trump-holds-just-three-point-lead-over-desantis-among-florida-republicans-in-new-poll
4. “S.E. Cupp: Are Trump’s attacks hurting or helping DeSantis?” TribLIVE, 17 Mar. 2023, https://triblive.com/opinion/s-e-cupp-are-trumps-attacks-hurting-or-helping-desantis
5. “DeSantis Has Edge Over Trump in One Key Area” Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/desantis-has-edge-over-trump-one-key-arearepublican-2024-1788280
