Since Governor Ron DeSantis officially launched his presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump has seen a significant boost in his lead over the Florida governor, according to a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll. DeSantis chose a virtual campaign launch on Twitter Spaces instead of a traditional rally, but technical difficulties marred the event and drew mockery, even from Trump himself.
The Twitter Spaces call encountered multiple issues, including audio cutouts, echoing, and random voices that were not from the governor. As a result, the launch did not go as smoothly as planned, and critics capitalized on the mishaps. However, it was Trump who gained the most from DeSantis’ campaign entry.
The Yahoo News/YouGov survey conducted after DeSantis joined the race showed a five-point increase in support for Trump. Among potential Republican primary voters, Trump now leads the field with 53%, up from 48% in early May before DeSantis’ candidacy. In contrast, DeSantis saw a decline, dropping to 25% from 28% in early May.
In a head-to-head matchup between Trump and DeSantis, Trump extended his lead to 55% compared to DeSantis’ 31%. Other declared candidates, such as Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Asa Hutchinson, polled below five percent. Additionally, Trump maintains a higher favorability rating among potential GOP primary voters, with 83%, while DeSantis stands at 77%.
These results indicate that despite DeSantis’ entry into the race, Trump’s support has only grown stronger. The former president’s lead has expanded to 28 points, emphasizing his enduring popularity within the Republican base. The survey, conducted from May 25 to May 30 with a margin of error of ±2.7, highlights the conservative electorate’s continued preference for Trump as the frontrunner in the Republican primary.
