Donald Trump has emerged as the prominent frontrunner among GOP contenders in Iowa. The state’s GOP presidential nominating event is just around the corner, and Trump’s lead is significantly ahead of Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, both of whom are in a close contest for the second position.
The data from the survey, which was executed the prior week, positions Trump with an advantage of approximately 30 percentage points over both the previous U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and the sitting Florida governor, as they gear up for the caucuses on January 15 in Iowa.
Regardless of the legal battles Trump is currently embroiled in, his influence in Iowa remains robust. He’s contending with several legal cases, a few of which are tied to his 2020 electoral defeat against Democrat Joe Biden. Yet, a significant 65% of participants in the survey felt confident in his ability to challenge Biden in the November 2024 race, given the latter’s intent to run again.
Pollster J. Ann Selzer commented, “Trump continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the GOP landscape, registering even stronger numbers since August.”
From the total 404 probable Iowa caucus participants questioned between October 22-26, Trump was the top pick for 43%, with both Haley and DeSantis each securing 16% of preferences. The poll’s margin of error stands at approximately 4.9 percentage points.
This polling data may raise concerns for DeSantis, especially considering his extensive campaign efforts in Iowa and significant resource allocation in the state. In contrast, Haley’s recent surge can be attributed to her commendable debate showings.
Interestingly, Trump’s lead has expanded. Back in August, he led DeSantis by 23 percentage points, and this gap has now increased to 27 percentage points. A considerable number of Republicans opine that the allegations against Trump may have political underpinnings.
It’s worth noting that this poll was conducted prior to the announcement of Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, bowing out of the race this past weekend.
