Trump’s Popularity Rises In Iowa Poll, While DeSantis Maintains Strong Lead Over Haley In Second Place

A recent poll reveals that while several Republican candidates have withdrawn from the presidential race in the last two months, the only individual who has significantly gained support in the initial voting state is former President Donald Trump.

Trump’s approval among probable caucusgoers in a Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll has risen to 51%, compared to the previous survey in October, which recorded his support at 43%.

According to the poll, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has seen a slight increase in his support, now standing at 19%, up from 16 percent in October. In contrast, Nikki Haley, who experienced a surge in the prior poll, has not made any additional progress and maintains a consistent support level of 16%.

The poll, conducted by J. Ann Selzer from December 2 to 7, does not necessarily show that DeSantis is truly ahead of Haley; a three-percentage-point gap is not significant, given that the poll’s margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.4% points. But it indicates, at a minimum, that Haley is not leaping ahead of him as she tries to make the argument that she is the strongest contender against Trump.

Moreover, Republican voters do not seem to have been swayed by Trump’s progressively more authoritarian language during his campaign, such as his recent derogatory remarks towards his opponents. Additionally, his extreme policy ideas have not caused a decline in support from his party members.

An interview in which Trump said he would act as a dictator came out while the poll was being conducted. Furthermore, he has not suffered any political damage from the ongoing legal cases against him, both criminal and civil.