From THEHILL.COM
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the early favorite for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination if former President Trump decides against another run for the White House, according to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey shared exclusively with The Hill.
In a hypothetical 2024 GOP presidential primary, DeSantis takes 36 percent support among those surveyed. His closest rival is former Vice President Mike Pence, who notches only 17 percent of the potential vote.
No other prospective candidate scores in the double digits. Only 8 percent of respondents say they would support former Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), while former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley comes in at 8 percent support.
Nevertheless, Trump remains the clear favorite should he mount a 2024 comeback campaign. Fifty-six percent of Republican voters in the poll say they would back the former president. In that scenario, DeSantis notches just 16 percent of the vote, while Pence falls to only 7 percent support.
Still, DeSantis, who’s running for a second term in the Florida governor’s mansion this year, lacks the same universal name recognition as Trump.
The former president’s favorability rating is still underwater, with 42 percent of respondents saying they have a favorable view and 50 percent holding an unfavorable opinion of… (Read more)
