Former President Donald Trump will likely run for president again – and the common belief among Republicans is that the 2024 nomination is his for the taking if he wants it.
But a new poll finds it might not be a cakewalk after all, and a close ally could turn into a chief rival: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in a virtual dead heat with Trump and is threatening to overtake the 45th president.
The poll has Trump as the choice of 26.2 percent of Republican voters, versus 25.2 percent for DeSantis.
That same poll in July had Trump at 46 percent versus just 13 percent for DeSantis, meaning the former president’s support has plunged by 20 points, while DeSantis has doubled over that same time.
The poll of likely voters was commissioned by the John Bolton Super PAC, a group run by John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security advisor before publicly turning on him.
And he was only too happy to take some digs at his ex-boss turned rival.
“These numbers will probably come as a shock to Donald Trump,” he said in a news release that claimed voters blame Trump for “legitimizing” the Taliban via his negotiations with them in 2020 that led to this year’s disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan.
“Biden bears the responsibly for the final embarrassing moments and his corresponding drop in support reflects that,” Bolton said. “But it’s not lost on anyone that Trump, like Biden, wanted to withdraw and shares the blame for the failure.”
If it’s to be believed, the poll also found more bad news for Trump.
Fifty-seven percent of Republican voters say a “fresh face” would be a stronger option for the party in 2024, versus 29 percent who think Trump remains the party’s best choice.
In addition, 66 percent of “very conservative” voters say they want someone other than Trump.
Overall, nearly three out of four Republican voters chose non-Trump candidates.
Along with DeSantis, the other top choices were all in the single digits: former NJ Gov. Chris Christie (7.2 percent), former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley (6 percent), and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (4.7 percent).
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, former Vice President Mike Pence, and senators Tim Scott (S.C.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), among others, also received support.
DeSantis has quickly made a name for himself for his unapologetically conservative approach to governing the Sunshine State as well as his close ties to the former president.
He’s also widely believed to have ambitions far beyond Tallahassee.
Until now, much of the speculation has been that the Florida governor could be Trump’s vice presidential pick should he run again.
If other polls match the new one, however, DeSantis could be tempted to challenge his one-time mentor in a primary battle that could begin as soon as next year’s midterm election is over.
That could lead to some fireworks, politically speaking, given Trump’s history.
He sees politics as a no-holds-barred sport, and in 2015 and 2016 turned his relentless approach on any rivals that came close to him at the polls.
Trump gave out Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) cellphone number, causing him to publicly smash the device.
He taunted Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as “Lil’ Marco.”
He dispatched with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, then seen as his chief rival, with relatively tame insults such as “low-energy.”
And of course, he attacked Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who ultimately became his main rival for the nomination, as “Lyin’ Ted.”
If Trump plans to run again… and DeSantis remains close in the polls and doesn’t dismiss the notion he might run himself… it might not be long before the two Floridians go toe-to-toe publicly, and DeSantis gets hit with a scathing nickname of his own.
— Walter W. Murray is a reporter for The Horn News. He is an outspoken conservative and a survival expert.