A CNN poll released on Tuesday (March 14) showed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who hasn’t announced a 2024 Presidential bid, is leading former President Donald Trump among registered Republican voters and Republican-leaning Independent voters.
The poll shows DeSantis leads Trump 39 to 37 percent among registered Republican voters and GOP-leaning Independent voters.
However, when the poll included non-registered voters as well, Trump took the lead, garnering 40 percent support to DeSantis’s 36 percent.
The CNN poll shows that younger, less educated, and less affluent voters have buoyed Trump’s candidacy. DeSantis, on the other hand, has been bolstered by older, affluent, educated voters.
Among those under 45, Trump has received 48 percent support compared to DeSantis’s 28 percent support among those in the same age group.
Among those over 45, DeSantis takes the lead with 40 percent support to Trump’s 35 percent.
Those earning less than $50,000 prefer Trump, with the former President receiving 52 percent support to DeSantis’s 27 percent support.
DeSantis leads Trump by eight percentage points, receiving 41 percent support to Trump’s 33 percent support among those earning more than $50,000.
White Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents who don’t have college degrees preferred Trump with 43 percent to DeSantis’s 38 percent.
However, one of the greatest disparities between Trump and DeSantis exists among White Republicans with college degrees, and Republican-leaning Independents with degrees prefer DeSantis, giving him 42 percent support to Trump’s 23 percent.
Both Trump and DeSantis supporters are enthusiastic about their respective candidates gaining the nomination, with 45 percent (Trump) and 46 percent (DeSantis) of supporters explaining they enthusiastically support their respective candidates.
