A new poll has revealed that in a head-to-head match with Joe Biden, Donald Trump is actually more electable than Ron DeSantis.
The latest Harvard Harris poll of over 2,900 registered voters was published this week, showing how the public might vote in a number of potential races in the 2024 presidential election in November next year.
When asked to choose between 45th President Donald Trump and Joe Biden, 45% of voters said that they would back Trump in the race, with 41% supporting Biden, and 14% undecided. In a match-up with Kamala Harris, Trump would do even better, with 48% support.
Florida’s Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to enter the presidential race, performed slightly worse than Trump in a head-to-head against Biden, only winning by 44%, with Biden remaining on 41%.
🇺🇲 2024 Presidential Election Poll
(R) Trump: 45% (+4)
(D) Biden: 41%(R) Trump: 48% (+10)
(D) Harris: 38%
.
(R) DeSantis: 44% (+3)
(D) Biden: 41%(R) DeSantis: 46% (+8)
(D) Harris: 38%Harris/Harvard (B) | Mar 22-23 | 2,905 RVhttps://t.co/9vPaxYpu6H pic.twitter.com/BA0GGJd37i
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 24, 2023
The same poll revealed that when it came to the Republican presidential primary, Trump gained 4 points of support, giving him a 50% hold on Republican voters, an outright majority, to DeSantis’ 24%. In a hypothetical match-up between the two, Trump would win by 56% to 44%.
Most voters believe that regardless of their opinions on Trump and DeSantis, that the former President is the most likely to win the nomination to begin with, as 57% of Republican and Independent voters think that Trump will take the 2024 mantle.
The poll results match those of another taken by Premise, which gave Trump a 6 point lead in a match-up against Biden. DeSantis, on the other hand, only scraped by with a 1 point lead, well within the margin of error. Other recent polls have shown DeSantis completely losing against Biden in a presidential race.
🇺🇲 2024 Presidential Election Poll
(R) Trump: 47% (+6)
(D) Biden: 41%(R) DeSantis: 39% (+1)
(D) Biden: 38%Net 8-point swing towards Trump from February 19 poll (was: 42/44 – Biden +2)@premisedata (B/C) | 1,509 RV | 03/16-21https://t.co/OeAkzfniYp pic.twitter.com/2Tjn1apSiQ
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 22, 2023
The idea that DeSantis is more “electable” than Trump appears to be one of the key points that supporters of the Florida Governor claim when arguing that Trump should not be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, often saying he has “baggage” and is “too toxic.”
"How is he more electable when he didn't perfectly respond to a perceived threat that has so far not come to fruition and we would hate him anyway no matter how he responded?"
DeSantis *is* more electable. That may change in the future, but right now it's true. https://t.co/J4bvMkzfLL
— TylerMartwick (@ReyCurmudgeon) March 22, 2023
2 things that can be true at once:
1. Trump arrest is an egregious political stunt, abuse of power and corruption
2. Trump is not electable in 2024. Democrats know it. This is part of their plan to secure his primary win.That’s critical thinking in 280 characters or less.
— Anna Hoffman (@shoesonplease) March 18, 2023
The problem is Trump is not electable.
— Gail Goodman (@gailgoodman11) March 23, 2023
DeSantis is dropping as Trump attacks him directly and as the GOP base rallies around Trump ahead of a potential indictment.
Seems his best tack remains to de-emphasize issue differences with Trump and distinguish himself instead as more electable—Trump without all the baggage. https://t.co/zUxKMth3Q3
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) March 23, 2023
