- DeSantis led field in poll of 2024 hopefuls without Trump
- Trump’s support essentially the same as straw poll in 2021
Trump had an approval rating of 99% and was the choice of 69% of about 1,000 attendees at the conference in Dallas who voted, followed by DeSantis at 24%. Texas Senator Ted Cruz had 2% with other potential candidates at 1% or less.
In a separate question without Trump as a candidate in 2024, DeSantis was the overwhelming choice at 65%, followed by the former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., at 8%, Cruz at 6% and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at 5%.
While it’s unscientific, the poll released Saturday is an indication of sentiment among GOP activists and grass-roots voters. Republicans look to the poll results to gauge the standing of Trump and his potential rivals in 2024, especially DeSantis, who didn’t attend the conference.
Support for Trump was little changed from the 70% he received in the poll taken at the 2021 CPAC gathering in Dallas last July and was higher than the 59% in a CPAC straw poll in February at its event in Orlando.
Trump said he has already decided on whether to make another White House bid, and the only question remaining was when he would make the announcement — before or after the November midterm elections.
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