A recent poll by the Wall Street Journal showed that former US President Donald Trump is leading the GOP presidential-nomination race, with 51% of likely Republican primary voters favoring him over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis took second place with 38% support. In December, DeSantis had a 14-point advantage over Trump, but his support dropped to a 13-point deficit in April.
The poll suggests that Trump is gaining support across most of the primary electorate, while DeSantis is struggling on the national level. Trump stands out among a potential field of 12 Republican contenders, with 48% support. DeSantis takes second place with 24% support, followed by Nikki Haley with 5% and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott with 3%.
The drop in DeSantis’ support could be due to several reasons, including his failure to engage with Trump and his calling the war in Ukraine a “territorial dispute,” which angered some voters. However, polls show that 84% of Republican voters think DeSantis has a more positive image than Trump, and 41% of Republican primary voters believe DeSantis would have a better chance of beating US President Joe Biden. Additionally, 48% of respondents believe DeSantis has the better temperament to be president.
The poll also found that voters who identify as “very conservative,” women, and college graduates who vote Republican have sided with Trump. Despite facing criminal charges, Trump’s campaign activity has helped him gain ground among Republican voters.
