New Poll: DeSantis Beats Biden in 2024, but not Trump

Amid rumors of him running for president in 2024, Floridians do not seem to be fully behind Governor DeSantis (R-FL) leaving his post as governor.  In fact, Floridians prefer President Trump to Gov.DeSantis in the latest 2024 presidential polls.

Most would say that Ron DeSantis has successfully capitalized on the rivalry between him and the Biden Administration.  In fact, the Florida governor edges out the incumbent president in the latest Suffolk University/USA TODAY Network poll conducted last month found that voters in Sunshine State favored DeSantis over President Joe Biden (D), 52% to 44%, in a hypothetical race.

However, former President Donald Trump (R) also beats Biden, but by a smaller margin of 47% to 44%.

“Ironically, this 2024 Florida case study could be the narrative of the 2022 midterms: party nominees, who are strong within their party but less popular among the general electorate, could win their respective party primaries but falter in the general election,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston.

Although DeSantis should fare better over Biden than Trump, the statistics show a different reality when DeSantis and Trump face off in a hypothetical primary.  Among Florida Republicans Trump leads DeSantis by 7 points (47% to 40%).

While polls have been wrong before, the numbers concerning a potential comeback for former President Trump have been quite consistent since talks of his return began.  Last year 73% of Republicans nationally confirmed they would vote for Trump again if he were to run in 2024.