DeSantis leads Trump nationally among registered voters
Conn Carroll
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has not yet announced an intention to run for president in 2024, but among registered Republicans voters he is already leading former President Donald Trump 39% to 37%, according to CNN’s latest national poll.
Among all Republican adults, Trump leads DeSantis, 40% to 36%.
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The latest CNN poll shows an emerging theme in the 2024 Republican primary. Younger, poorer, and less educated voters prefer Trump, whereas older, wealthier, and better educated voters prefer DeSantis.
Among those younger than 45, Trump is leading DeSantis 48%-28%. Among those older than 45, DeSantis leads 40%-35%.
Among those making less than $50,000 a year, Trump is leading DeSantis 52%-27%. Among those making more than $50,000 a year, DeSantis leads 41%-33%.
Among whites without a college degree, Trump leads DeSantis 43%-38%. Among whites with a college degree, DeSantis is leading 42%-23%.
For now, DeSantis appears to be the more unifying candidate — the candidate more Republicans are enthusiastic about. Among registered Republican voters, 70% would be enthusiastic if Trump were to win the nomination, whereas 30% would be dissatisfied, including 15% who would be upset.
If DeSantis were to win the nomination, however, 78% of registered Republican voters would be enthusiastic and only 11% would be dissatisfied, including just 5% who would be upset.
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The story is quite different for former Vice President Mike Pence. If Pence were to win the nomination, just 45% would be enthusiastic about his candidacy, whereas 50% would be dissatisfied, including 33% who would be upset. Among registered Republican voters, Pence (6%) is currently a distant fourth, behind DeSantis (39%), Trump (37%), and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (7%).
Of the candidates named in the poll, only Trump and Haley have announced their candidacies so far. The field will surely grow before it begins to shrink. But when it does begin to narrow, it appears DeSantis is best positioned to gain ground. Asked who their second choice was, 30% chose DeSantis compared to just 22% for Trump.