New data shows that former President Donald Trump leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his potential challenger in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, in two key states.
According to Victory Insights' latest survey of the Florida primary, Trump is on top of DeSantis by eight percentage points, 42.9% to 34.8%.
In third place is businessman Vivek Ramaswamy at 3.5%, followed by former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at 3.2%. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who recently announced his run, is at 1.4%.
In a head-to-head between Trump and DeSantis, the former president leads 46.6% to 31.8%. That's a 25.7-point swing in favor of Trump since November, when he trailed DeSantis 36.5% to 47.4%.
"I guess Ron DeSantis is not quite as popular in Florida as people thought. I assume, among other things, that they don't want their Social Security and MediCare cut!" Trump wrote on Truth Social in response to the Victory Insights poll.
Trump once again leads the Florida governor in Iowa, a recent Cygnal poll found.
He boasts a seven-point lead over DeSantis, 37% to 30%. Haley came in third with 5%, followed by Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, all at 2%.
The findings arrive as DeSantis is yet to officially announce a run for the White House, despite recently receiving the support of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
Two other House Republicans, Byron Donalds and Cory Mills of Florida, have recently put their support behind Trump instead.
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