OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump has managed to extend his lead over likely 2024 rival President Joe Biden, should the latter declare he will run again, following his appearance in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday.
“In the just-released Rasmussen Reports survey, Trump moved ahead of Biden 47%-40% with support from women and independents,” the Washington Examiner reports.
The survey conducted on Wednesday was the first test of the 2024 general election since the Manhattan hush money indictment against the 45th president was released last week. The survey was conducted before Tuesday’s hearing, during which Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 charges, the outlet reported.
In a tweet on Wednesday showing the results, the pollster included February numbers and wrote, “Reversal of Fortune — Massive Strategic Backfire.”
“The survey weighted Democrats heavier than Republicans and independents, 36%, 33%, 31%,” the Examiner noted.
Tomorrow AM: Reversal of Fortune
Massive Strategic Backfire – Stay Tuned. pic.twitter.com/rl0ujh9d2X
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) April 4, 2023
In addition, Biden is trailing behind Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who has a more significant lead at 46% compared to Biden’s 38%.
Both DeSantis and Trump are performing well among women and independent voters, which are considered critical to winning in 2024. Trump leads Biden among women with a 47% to 39% margin. DeSantis, on the other hand, leads among women with a 43% to 39% margin.
“With independent voters, Trump leads Biden 44%-36%, and it’s DeSantis over Biden 44%-32%,” the outlet continued. The pollster also noted that both Trump and DeSantis would have 26 percent of the black vote if the election were held this week.
During a speech last night after his indictment, Trump laid out his latest argument to regain the presidency, criticizing multiple prosecutions that he claimed were instances of “political persecution” reminiscent of a banana republic. He also criticized Biden’s management of the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.
“Our country is going to hell,” he said.
A February survey released just before Biden’s State of the Union address revealed that his own party is not happy with him.
According to an AP-NORC poll, Biden only has support from 37 percent of Democrats for a second term. Prior to the midterms in November, the same poll found that 52 percent wanted Biden to run again in 2024.
“While Biden has trumpeted his legislative victories and ability to govern, the poll suggests relatively few U.S. adults give him high marks on either. Follow-up interviews with poll respondents suggest that many believe the 80-year-old’s age is a liability, with people focused on his coughing, his gait, his gaffes, and the possibility that the world’s most stressful job would be better suited for someone younger,” the Associated Press reported.
“I, honestly, think that he would be too old,” said Sarah Overman, a Democrat in Raleigh, North Carolina. “We could use someone younger in the office.”
A lawyer in Michigan, who the AP referred to as “Truckey,” said he did not vote for Biden or Trump in 2020 but said Biden has been a “subpar” president.
“His age and possibly his mental acuity is not where I would want the leader of the country to be,” Truckey said. “He, at times, appears to be an old man who is past his prime. Sometimes I feel a little bit of pity for the guy being pushed out in front of crowds.”
John Rodriguez, who supports Trump, told the AP he thinks Biden is merely doing the bidding of his aides. That creates a challenge for a president who promised to unite the country.
“I believe he’s not the one who’s calling the shots,” said Rodriguez, who lives in Cutler Bay, Florida. “He’s a puppet being told where to go, what to say.”
The AP report added:
Overall, 41% approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, the poll shows, similar to ratings at the end of last year. A majority of Democrats still approve of the job Biden is doing as president, yet their appetite for a reelection campaign has slipped despite his electoral track record. Only 22% of U.S. adults overall say he should run again, down from 29% who said so before last year’s midterm elections.
