Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis falls well short of an outright majority in the GOP primary even when Donald Trump is excluded from the polls.
Surveys carried out by Harris and The Messenger from November 22nd to November 28th found that, without Trump, the Florida Governor manages a weak plurality of just 37 percent. Nikki Haley, who is now polling ahead of DeSantis in several states, comes in second on 16 percent. Vivek Ramaswamy is close behind her on 15 percent, suggesting he is the second preference of many Trump voters.
Former DeSantis sponsors such as Keith Rabois and his same-sex spouse Jacob Helberg have shifted support to Haley. Others, viewing Trump’s lead as insurmountable, are now backing the former president.
“I think Trump is too strong,” said Robert Bigelow, who at one point donated $20 milliion to DeSantis. “[Trump is] a hell of an ass kicker,” he added, describing DeSantis, in contrast, as just “a user of people”.
2024 National Republican Primary, Without Trump:
DeSantis 37%
Haley 16%
Ramaswamy 15%
Christie 3%
Burgum 2%
Stapleton 1%
Hutchinson 1%
Binkley 1%.@Harris_X_/@TheMessenger, 1,454 RV, 11/22-28https://t.co/JZlxP3zTZX
— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) November 30, 2023