Following his indictment, Donald Trump has experienced a decrease of six percentage points in Republican voter polls, narrowing the gap between him and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered one of the frontrunners for the 2024 presidential candidate. According to a recent CNN/SSRS survey, Trump still maintains a strong lead with the support of 47 percent of Republican voters. However, DeSantis consistently holds the second position, trailing behind Trump by 21 percent in the latest polling data.
When the same survey was taken in May, Trump was ahead of DeSantis by 27 percent – 53 percent to 26 percent. The biggest change between May and June polling was that Trump was handed a federal indictment by the Justice Department with 37 counts against him in the case involving his handling of classified documents when leaving office. Charges include ones that fall under the Espionage Act, which South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham says in an ‘overcharge’ because Trump ‘is not a spy.’
In the previous survey conducted in May, Donald Trump held a significant lead over Ron DeSantis by 27 percent, with a support of 53 percent compared to DeSantis’ 26 percent.
However, the most notable shift occurred between the May and June polls, coinciding with the issuance of a federal indictment by the Justice Department against Trump. The indictment includes 37 counts related to his handling of classified documents upon leaving office. Some of the charges fall under the Espionage Act, which has drawn criticism from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who considers it an “overcharge” as Trump is not classified as a spy.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has strongly criticized the indictment of Trump, aligning himself with the general sentiment among Republicans who view it as an instance of the federal government being weaponized against their party.
Taking to Twitter, DeSantis expressed his concerns about the weaponization of federal law enforcement, emphasizing its potential threat to a free society. He pointed out the perceived inconsistency in the application of the law based on political affiliation, questioning the zealous pursuit of Trump while other cases, such as those involving Hillary Clinton or Hunter Biden, appear to receive less attention.
However, it is noteworthy that despite his condemnation of the indictment, DeSantis has also adopted a more confrontational stance towards Trump in his campaign videos and rallies held nationwide.
Source: CNN/SSRS survey