Staff Reports
The 2024 Republican presidential race is heating up, and it seems like former President Donald Trump has the lead. However, the clear runner-up in the race is none other than Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. But wait, things may not be going so smoothly for DeSantis. A recent poll has shown that his favorability ratings have taken a nosedive, especially among independent voters. Yikes!
Now, let’s not jump to conclusions just yet. It’s still early in the campaign season, and a lot can change between now and when voters actually cast their ballots. But this is definitely a cause for concern for Governor DeSantis. We all know how important those independent voters can be.
According to the Civiqs polling firm, Governor DeSantis’ favorability rating currently stands at 35% favorable and 56% unfavorable overall. And it’s a similar story among independent voters, with 33% viewing him favorably, 55% unfavorably, and 12% unsure. That’s a significant drop from where he stood just a few months ago.
Back in December, shortly after his re-election as Florida’s governor, DeSantis had a favorability rating of 51% favorable and 40% unfavorable. But since then, things have taken a turn for the worse. His favorability began to decline in March and April, and it plummeted even further when he officially launched his presidential campaign in May. Ouch!
Now, let’s talk about DeSantis’ support among Republicans because that’s where he’s still standing strong. The Civiqs poll shows that 73% of Republicans hold a favorable view of the governor, while only 14% view him unfavorably. That’s an impressive +59% spread. However, it’s worth noting that even among Republicans, DeSantis has seen a decline in favorability. In early May, around 80% of Republicans viewed him favorably, but that number has dropped since then.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats seem to despise DeSantis. A whopping 93% of registered Democratic voters in the poll view him unfavorably, with only 3% holding a favorable view. It’s safe to say that DeSantis won’t be winning over many Democrats anytime soon.
If we look at the RealClearPolitics average of 2024 GOP primary polls, we see a similar story. DeSantis is trailing Trump by around 30 points, with an average support level of 21.5% compared to Trump’s 52.1%. It’s clear that Trump still has a strong hold on Republican voters, and DeSantis has some catching up to do.
It’s all a bit disheartening for DeSantis, but as a conservative, it’s important to look at the bigger picture. Let’s not forget that the media has been relentless in their attacks on DeSantis, trying to paint him as a villain. Despite that, he still enjoys strong support among Republicans and has time to turn things around. He’s a fierce defender of conservative principles, and that should count for something.
So, while there’s some cause for concern for Governor DeSantis, it’s still too early to count him out. The campaign season is just getting started, and anything can happen. As conservatives, let’s keep our eyes on the prize and support the candidate who will fight for our values and make America great again!
Source: Conservative Institute
