Originally published September 5, 2023 12:00 pm PDT
In a political climate that constantly defies conventions, the latest CNN/SSRS poll unveils former President Donald Trump as the undoubted front-runner in the Republican primary, leading with a staggering 52%.
This places him 34 points ahead of his closest competitor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who stands at 18%.
The CNN poll findings underscore a seemingly unwavering loyalty to Trump within the GOP base, as he polls higher than all his rivals combined.
This support persists even amidst a slew of upcoming criminal trials linked to Trump, which introduce the very real prospect that the GOP could find itself in an unprecedented position of possibly nominating a convicted felon.
Further down the primary ladder, other GOP candidates are grappling with the unanticipated challenge posed by the political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy.
Strikingly, Ramaswamy seems to have unnerved his more experienced peers more than Trump himself, diverting their attention and criticisms toward him.
This new data reaffirms Trump’s enduring hold over the Republican Party and suggests a potential straightforward nomination for him.
This might come as a surprise to some, especially considering Trump’s controversial efforts to challenge the integrity of the 2020 election results.
Those not surprised, however, have likely been paying attention to the size of the crowds attending Trump-related events as well as the substantial bumps in campaign donations following the former president’s indictments.
Notably, however, respondents to the poll clarified that their voting decisions were more influenced by policy concerns than personalities.
Trump was deemed as the best-suited candidate to address pivotal issues such as Ukraine, immigration, and crime and justice.
Nevertheless, the broader political landscape holds significant challenges for Trump, according to CNN.
If he’s to engage in a close electoral rematch with President Joe Biden, he must address his notable vulnerabilities with swing voters, especially in key states that could determine the general election’s outcome.
