(PresidentialInsider.com)- The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week shows that a majority of Republican respondents said they would back former President Donald Trump as the GOP nominee in 2024.
The poll, conducted between December 13 and 17, had respondents make their choice from a list of potential Republican primary candidates. Former President Trump received 54 percent support, with “Not Sure” finishing a distant second with 14 percent.
Finishing off the top five were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (11 percent), former Vice President Mike Pence (8 percent), former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (4 percent).
The rest of the potential field who finished below Haley were Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Chris Christie of all people, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.
The poll also found that 56 percent of all respondents believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
The top two areas respondents named as of most concern were COVID and Inflation (73 percent each).
Though he has not officially announced that he would seek another run at the White House in 2024, former President Trump has, for quite some time, been teasing harder than a co-ed at a sorority mixer – often telling audiences that they would be “happy” with his decision.
For his part, Governor DeSantis has dismissed the idea of running in 2024. He recently told Fox News host Sean Hannity that at this time he is focused on doing the job Floridians elected him to do.
Trump suggested last month that if he runs again, DeSantis would make a good running mate. However, he also floated the possibility of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott or maybe a woman. Trump previously suggested that if DeSantis ran in the 2024 primary, he would beat the Florida Republican easily.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that 52 percent of respondents had a favorable opinion of President Joe Biden and only 48 percent held an unfavorable view. Likewise, 51 percent had a favorable view of Vice President Kamala Harris and only 49 percent had an unfavorable view.
So take this poll with a large grain of salt.
