More national polls show Vivek Ramaswamy eclipsing Ron DeSantis

Vivek AP Iowa Ramaswamy dark
Ramaswamy has called DeSantis a 'super PAC puppet.' DeSantis plans to attack 'Vivek the Fake' in next week's debate.

Two new national polls show Vivek Ramaswamy surging in the GOP presidential race at Ron DeSantis’ expense.

One poll shows Ramaswamy in second place by himself, while the other says the race for runner up is a dead heat.

The polling comes out after a memo from the DeSantis camp outlined plans to target Ramaswamy in Wednesday’s GOP debate in Milwaukee, a document Ramaswamy has mocked already, contending that the “robotic” DeSantis is a “super PAC puppet.”

A poll of 1,017 likely GOP primary and caucus voters from Echelon Insights, commissioned by the Republican Main Street Partnership, shows Ramaswamy in second place by himself with 15% support, four points more than DeSantis’ 11%.

“Ramaswamy has continued to rise in polls, performing particularly well among parents (20%) and suburban women (19%),” asserts a polling memo accompanying the results.

Both men are way behind former President Donald Trump’s 55%.

“While Donald Trump remains the frontrunner, Republican voters seeking an alternative candidate are beginning to coalesce around a few top-tier choices. For much of the past year that was Gov. DeSantis, but Vivek Ramaswamy has risen well above expectations and is currently leading the pack of challengers,” notes Sarah Chamberlain, RMSP President and CEO.

“Voters are clearly hungry for something new – no group more than the suburban women who often decide elections. If Mr. Ramaswamy, Gov. DeSantis, or any of the other hopefuls want a serious chance at winning the nomination, appealing to those voters should be top priority.”

The Echelon poll was in the field from Aug. 15 through Aug. 17.

Meanwhile, a new Emerson College Poll shows a tie for second place. Both Ramaswamy and DeSantis are at 10%, with Trump at 56%. But the interesting subplot is the diverging fortunes of the two second-placers.

“DeSantis’ support has decreased by eleven points over the summer, while Ramaswamy’s support has increased by eight points,” a polling memo states.

“Ramaswamy has improved among Republican voters with a postgraduate degree, a group that has previously been part of the DeSantis’ base,” polling director Spencer Kimball said. “In the June Emerson poll, 38% of postgraduates supported DeSantis in the primary, which has dropped to 14% this month. Instead, 17% support Ramaswamy and 32% Trump.”

Kimball continued, “Ramaswamy has made inroads among younger Republican Primary voters: 16% of voters under 35 support Ramaswamy, compared to 48% who support Trump and 15% DeSantis. DeSantis still holds 12% of voters over 65, while Trump holds 50% among this group and Ramaswamy holds 3%.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


5 comments

  • GloraDeni

    August 19, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    Take Good g2 Dollars Online Here………………………… linkify.me/qLQ68W

  • My Take

    August 19, 2023 at 10:02 pm

    There are plenty of reasons to disagree with Romanswampy, but unlike DeSSlimetis, little reason to hate him.

  • My Take

    August 19, 2023 at 10:48 pm

    moRon will blame Crazy?
    And Crazy will blame moRon?
    More likely they both will blame some scapegoat.

  • Conservative Independent

    August 20, 2023 at 4:23 pm

    As an out-of-stater, Gov DeSantis has done a truly great job leading Florida. It’s easy to forget how radical–and effective–his leadership was during the pandemic and how much differently our national response could have been (for the better). That said, I think he’s better in office than on the campaign trail, a difficult balance to navigate. I hope he doesn’t chase polls but continues to lead with conviction.

    Mr. Ramaswamy came out of no where, and when I first heard of his candidacy I thought there was no way he would get traction. Now a few weeks later, after seeing him go unscripted in various environments (hostile and supportive), I find myself intrigued. It’s been a long time since there has been an intelligent, articulate candidate on the Republican ticket, but who knows how he will lead when/if he gets in office.

    Either way, both these candidates have the *potential* to elevate the conversation and give our country something worth striving for…time will tell if they–and we–can rise to the challenge!

  • My Taket

    August 21, 2023 at 8:56 am

    All three (including Trump) are faŕ too extremìst for Americà. Based on their openly DECLARED intentions.

Comments are closed.


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