A.G. Gancarski
The presidential debate is over, and at least one poll can give cover to Ron DeSantis’ campaign’s argument that the Florida Governor performed as well as anyone.
That’s the take of a new JL Partners poll conducted immediately after the showdown between GOP candidates in Milwaukee.
The survey asked respondents who they thought performed best at the debate. DeSantis’ 27% puts him just 1 point behind Vivek Ramaswamy, the choice of 28% of the 504 registered Republican voters who watched the two-hour telecast on Fox News. Given the +/- 4.4-percentage-point margin of error, the two are statistically tied.
The poll likely won’t change the triumphant tone taken by DeSantis’ campaign after the debate.
“Tonight, Ron DeSantis showed the nation that he is ready to beat Joe Biden, reverse our nation’s decline, and revive the American Dream,” DeSantis Campaign Manager James Uthmeier said.
“While other candidates attacked each other, Governor DeSantis stayed focused on the American people and fighting for their future with a clear vision to fix our economy, secure the border, empower parents, back law enforcement, and stand up to the leftist elites and the DC establishment. It is clear from tonight’s debate that Ron DeSantis is the only candidate who has what it takes to fight — and win — against Joe Biden and the Democrats. Ron DeSantis won the night in Milwaukee, and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum on the ground in Iowa and the rest of the early states.”
Other candidates were much further behind in the poll, first reported by the Daily Mail.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is the choice of 13% of respondents, Tim Scott 8%, and Nikki Haley 7%. Further back still are Chris Christie (4%), Doug Burgum (3%) and Asa Hutchinson (2%). An additional 9% of respondents weren’t sure who they favored.
DeSantis and Ramaswamy took two different approaches to the debate. While Ramaswamy was arguably the most combative of the eight people on stage, DeSantis held to talking points and formulations familiar to those who have heard his stump speech.
Ramaswamy got the first direct hit on DeSantis early, referencing a pre-debate strategy memo from Never Back Down and blasting “puppets following slogans handed over to them by their 400-page super PACs.”
“Do you want a super PAC puppet,” he asked, “or do you want a patriot who speaks the truth?”
DeSantis’ own super PAC, responsible for a strategy memo that said the Governor should call Ramaswamy “Vivek the fake,” disclaimed its own advice.
“I can tell you this much. … Every word you’re going to hear tonight are directly his thoughts, his words, and his actions,” said Erin Perrine on Wednesday’s “Fox & Friends,” ahead of the debate.
18 comments
Flailing DeSantard
August 24, 2023 at 9:52 am
But they’re still going to pick Trump. So, the real winner? Joe Biden. Nice work LOL.
Richard C. Russell
August 24, 2023 at 10:17 am
Fox news was the real loser. The Conservative base in America, is still the silent majority, have seen FoxNews true colors and no longer blindly tune into Fox. 100,000,000 viewers tuned into watch President Trump (he was and still is President) interview with Tucker-how many viewers watched the debate, live?
Silly Wabbit
August 24, 2023 at 4:18 pm
You kwazy.
Earl Pitts "The Ronald's Un-Official Campaign Manager' American
August 24, 2023 at 11:08 am
Good mornting America,
New Polling just out from the trusted Earl Pitts American Political Polling Division:
Desantis won the debate by a large margin.
An interesting out-take from our polling regarding the Haley/Ramaswamy cat fight is that 85% of those polled brought up [and our Polling Division did not even ask a question even remotly related to] their “cat fight”.
Americans are just not acustomed to a man of Indian heritage (dot not feather) railing on a fine upstanding American Woman the way Apu disrespected Nikki Haley last night.
Sure we loved Vivek back when he voiced Apu, the Mini-Market Manager, from The Simpson’s … But: Ameicans are not accustomed to the way he disrespected Haley.
Just think about it, America, Apu shouting at the lovely Marge Simpson over the price of a slurpie and some beer for Homer. No … just No America.
Our great nation is accustomed to the Apu’s in The USA being in service positions, such as road-side Motel Management, Mini-Market Management, and at those Smoke Shops which seem to be popping up everywhere.
So just as a public service anouncment:
Beware all online wagering members of the general public: Now may not be the time to place that “Dark Horse Comes From Behind Wager” if you are a fan of Apu Ramaswammy.
Thank you America,
EPA
*new feature*
Online Bumper Stickers
VOTE DESANTIS
F
August 24, 2023 at 1:43 pm
You do know Haleys parents are Indian as well right? Her name is Nimarata Nikki Haley and her parents are from Punjab, India. Her lighter skin might be clouding your racist judgment. And no, apu’s are not in service positions, they actually the brains of the world. If only you tried educating yourself, maybe then America would remain great, and nasa wouldn’t need to import Apu’s because their own citizens are as challenged as you
Earl Pitts "The Ronald's Un-Official Campaign Manager' American
August 24, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Thank you “F”,
But I, Earl Pitts American, must warn you to stop trying to up-stage “America’s Go To Political Guru” with “Facts”.
I Say I Say I Say Son, we are trying to win a classic American pugulistic political “National Championship” here and we got no time for your inconvienent facts.
Truth be told Apu was mean to the beautiful All American Ms. Haley and Apu must pay the political price.
Thank you “F”,
Earl Pitts ” FogHorn LegHorn” American
Joe The Plumber
August 24, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Dang you just got to be feeling some kind of way for poor old F. I mean he’s totally owning Earl with the facts and our boy F knows it.
But look at what Earl did. He went all FogHorn LegHorn on F and ran F off crying like a stuck pig into the next County.
Note to self. Dont F with Earl
Joe
Joe
August 25, 2023 at 1:17 pm
Earl just got F’d!
Silly Wabbit
August 24, 2023 at 4:30 pm
You kwazy.
Michael K
August 24, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Frank Bruni’s description in the NYT is spot on:
“All of 38 years old, Ramaswamy is like Trump in the larva stage, molting toward the full MAGA wingspan but not quite there yet. His narcissism, though, is fully evolved.”
Pilgrim
August 24, 2023 at 1:53 pm
When on a campaign you have to toot your horn. Don’t confuse Trump with Vivek. Vivek isn’t a narcissist. Number one, that term is used as a blanket term now. It is the word of the moment, not just in politics, everwhere.
W
August 24, 2023 at 2:21 pm
The question is idealism vs pragmatism. Does the Party want a candidate who fights for every item on the conservative agenda or do we want an individual who will appeal to the broad base of the American voter? Extremism will end up in defeat and moderation will end up in victory. Can the Party afford to risk losing the White House and more Congressional seats in the drive for purity, or can the Party moderate some of its plank to win, win, win?
TJC
August 24, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Your call for pragmatism is indeed what the Party needs, but…and this is the big but: Trump is not going to allow pragmatism unless it’s his idea of pragmatism, and lately his idea of pragmatism is to raise money off of his indictments. Money for him, not the Party. Money that he’ll continue to use for his defense in the courts — and from his point of view, that is indeed a fine kind of pragmatism.
W2
August 24, 2023 at 4:33 pm
No, it’s not “idealism vs. pragmatism”. It’s Trump vs. someone else. The unfortunate reality is that virtually every single candidate on the stage last night will perform better than Trump in the general election. Biden is a deeply unpopular President, and independents and most Democrats aren’t going to show up with enthusiam to vote for him. But they will show up in droves to vote against Trump, who will both lose the election and drag down the rest of the ticket, preventing what should be a Republican landslide.
Joe
August 25, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Lil Ronnie looking around to see what everyone else is doing before raising his hand to support Trump… says it all. This little putz has no ideology and no backbone.
Boaz
August 26, 2023 at 4:15 am
Polls conducted by the Washington Post before and after the debate showed that of those who watched the debate in person or remotely, a majority responded that Governor DeSantis won with Vivek Ramaswamy coming in a close second. More revealing in the Washington Post poll was that while Nikki Haley did the most, at least marginally, to improve her likability, etc., Governor DeSantis had, by far, the highest favorability rating — better than Trump’s — 72% to 59%.
Boaz
August 26, 2023 at 4:15 am
Polls conducted by the Washington Post before and after the debate showed that of those who watched the debate in person or remotely, a majority responded that Governor DeSantis won with Vivek Ramaswamy coming in a close second. More revealing in the Washington Post poll was that while Nikki Haley did the most, at least marginally, to improve her likability, etc., Governor DeSantis had, by far, the highest favorability rating — better than Trump’s — 72% to 59%.
Ruth Boaz
August 26, 2023 at 4:26 am
Polls conducted by the Washington Post before and after the debate showed that of those who watched the debate in person or remotely, a majority responded that Governor DeSantis won with Vivek Ramaswamy coming in a close second. More revealing in the Washington Post poll was that while Nikki Haley did the most, at least marginally, to improve her likability, etc., Governor DeSantis had, by far, the highest favorability rating — better than Trump’s — 72% to 59%.
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