OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A new survey provides more good news for former President Donald Trump, who is eying a potential rematch with President Joe Biden.
According to a Monmouth poll released on Tuesday, most Republican voters believe Trump has the best chance of defeating Biden next year.
The poll asked respondents, “Regardless of whether you currently support Donald Trump, which of the following statements comes closest to your view about which Republican has the best chance to win in 2024.”
It asked:
Donald Trump is definitely the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden
Donald Trump is probably the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden
Another Republican would probably be a stronger candidate than Trump
Another Republican would definitely be a stronger candidate than Trump
Overall, 63 percent said they believe Trump has the best chance to beat Biden, compared to around 32 percent for another Republican candidate.
Within the larger group, 45 percent were certain that Trump was unquestionably the strongest candidate, while 18 percent believed that Trump was likely the strongest. On the other hand, among the 32 percent who believed that someone other than Trump would be the strongest candidate, 19 percent expressed the opinion that another candidate would probably be stronger.
Only 13 percent of this group were confident that another candidate would definitely be stronger, Breitbart News reported, citing the survey.
According to the poll, Trump garnered 43 percent support, placing him in the lead, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 19 percent support, trailing Trump by a margin of 24 points. It is worth noting that Trump’s numbers saw a two-point increase since March, whereas DeSantis experienced an eight-point decrease in support during the same period.
“DeSantis lost ground even before he got out of the starting gate. Republican voters still like him, but they haven’t heard a convincing case for why he would be the party’s best option,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said.
Trump may be continuing to face legal challenges in New York and Georgia, but those cases do not seem to have hurt him politically, according to another major new 2024 presidential poll released earlier this month.
In fact, a perception that he’s being targeted politically may even be helping him ahead of a potential 2020 rematch against Biden.
According to the latest Harvard-Harris poll, there has been a notable surge in support for Trump, suggesting a potential path to victory next year if he secures the GOP nomination. The poll results indicate that Trump continues to maintain a formidable presence, despite various legal challenges, while also enjoying a substantial lead over his Democratic counterparts.
The poll reveals a remarkable surge in popularity for Trump, who garnered 47 percent approval from respondents, surpassing Biden’s approval rating of 40 percent, giving Trump a clear 7-point lead.
The survey also assessed hypothetical contests involving Trump and other prominent Democrats. The results, for instance, showed Trump with 50 percent support compared to Vice President Kamala Harris, who trailed behind at 39 percent.
🇺🇲 2024 Presidential Election Poll
(R) Trump: 47% (+7)
(D) Biden: 40%(R) Trump: 50% (+11)
(D) Harris: 39%
.
(D) Biden: 42% (=)
(R) DeSantis: 42%(D) Harris: 42% (=)
(R) DeSantis: 42%Harvard/Harris | 05/17-18 | 2000 RV https://t.co/SFFYM6RDOh pic.twitter.com/JWaEDQLiL3
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 19, 2023
The poll showed DeSantis in a dead heat with Biden with both at 42 percent.
Meanwhile, according to the survey, less than 33 percent of respondents believe that the country is moving in the right direction, which is a clear indication of the lack of confidence in Biden’s policies. Additionally, an alarming 66 percent of the participants expressed concern about the direction of the U.S. economy, an indication they believe it is heading in the wrong direction — a clear reflection of a perception that the current administration is unable to manage the country’s financial well-being.
At the same time, half of respondents reported that their personal finances have worsened during the Biden presidency. And according to the poll, a mere 21 percent of respondents expressed confidence in avoiding a potential recession.
