Former President Donald Trump continues to hold a strong lead in the race for the Republican nomination in Iowa, according to a recent poll released ahead of the first Republican debate. The NBC News-Des Moines Register-Mediacom poll revealed that 42% of likely GOP caucus-goers in Iowa support Trump as their first choice, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis coming in second at 19%.
Other candidates in the large pool of Republican presidential contenders managed to maintain over 2% first-choice support. Behind Trump and DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina garnered 9% support, followed by former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence at 6% each, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie at 5%, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 4%.
The poll, conducted among 406 likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers, highlighted that a majority of respondents, 52%, had not made up their minds and were open to supporting another candidate. Trump and DeSantis were essentially tied among independent caucus-goers who identify as Republicans.
Nationally, Trump enjoys even greater support among Republicans, with a CBS News poll indicating that 62% of likely GOP primary voters back him. DeSantis is the closest rival with 16% support.
Despite facing several recent indictments, Trump remains the dominant Republican candidate. In Iowa, where he finished second in the 2016 presidential contest, he continues to lead the pack, even though he has opted out of participating in certain campaign events, such as the annual Roast and Ride hosted by Senator Joni Ernst. According to the poll, 66% of Trump’s first-choice supporters have made up their minds, and 65% of all likely Republican caucus-goers do not believe he has committed serious crimes. Trump’s lead over DeSantis actually increased following his recent indictment in Fulton County, Georgia.
Instead of attending this week’s debate, Trump chose to participate in a prerecorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which will air on Wednesday night. In a statement, Trump cited strong polling as the reason for skipping the debate, asserting that the public already knows who he is and the success of his presidency.
In conclusion, the poll indicates that Trump maintains a strong lead in the Iowa Republican caucuses, with DeSantis as his closest rival. However, with five months remaining until the caucuses, many Iowa Republicans remain undecided and open to supporting other contenders. Trump’s support among Republicans nationwide is even higher, where he enjoys a significant advantage over his competitors.
