A.G. Gancarski
The good news from the University of New Hampshire poll of Granite State Republican Primary voters is that Ron DeSantis doesn’t have much further to fall ahead of the open contest Jan. 23.
The bad news is that he’s at 5%, behind Donald Trump (39%), Nikki Haley (32%), Chris Christie (12%) and Vivek Ramaswamy (8%). And given that only 40% of DeSantis’ supporters say they are “definitely decided,” the data suggests his hard support is around 2%.
The polling memo describes DeSantis’ support as having “plummeted.” Given that he was at 43% earlier this year and has therefore lost nearly 90% of his previous backing, that’s a fair assessment.
DeSantis is still the top second choice, with 17% of respondents seeing him as a fallback.
Yet he’s underwater in terms of favorable numbers, with 29% approval against 41% disapproval. He’s lost 67 points in net, going from a +55 in January to the current -12.
To put DeSantis’ decline in perspective, he’s doing worse in this Primary than no-hope candidates Dean Phillips (7%) and Marianne Williamson (6%) are on the Democratic side.
This is the second poll this month to show DeSantis at 5%. An American Research Group poll in the field between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 shows the Florida Governor with just 2% support among men, but with 5% support among the whole electorate.
Other polls corroborate these findings.
A survey from the St. Anselm College Survey Center found DeSantis at 6%, with the pollster claiming his support has “all but disappeared.”
December’s UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion showed DeSantis at 10%, actually in third place ahead of Christie. However, just 27% of his supporters said they are definitely voting for him, which means he could bottom out below 3% if things go really badly.
DeSantis will have a week after the Jan. 15 Iowa caucus to do the seemingly impossible. He told Hawkeye State reporters on Monday “we’ll be flying out of Iowa that night to go to New Hampshire and we’ll be in New Hampshire all the way through the New Hampshire Primary.”
12 comments
Dont Say FLA
January 9, 2024 at 9:43 am
Chris Christie, it’s time for you to drop out and endorse Haley. Today. Get on it, sir!
Michael K
January 9, 2024 at 10:08 am
To put DeSantis’ decline in perspective, he’s doing worse in this Primary than no-hope candidates…”
Dr. Franklin Waters
January 9, 2024 at 12:22 pm
It’s almost as if being a complete prick on every level and issue; personal & political, is a losing strategy.
S.K.H.
January 10, 2024 at 5:53 am
I could not love this comment more. So happy to see others get it.
Backdafdown
January 9, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Wonderful poll! Too bad Florida man didn’t recognize this and choose Crist.
PeterH
January 9, 2024 at 2:14 pm
5th place is old for American democracy!
PeterH
January 9, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Good
BRIAN MCCAULEY
January 9, 2024 at 4:22 pm
LOL. That’s laughable. All polls are psyops. Don’t be surprised if DeSantis pulls off a win, or a very close 2nd place.
Jenny Mader
January 9, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Interesting that not one comment is supportive of DeSantis. Not one? They are all pro Nikki? LOL Not buying it.
S.K.H.
January 10, 2024 at 6:11 am
Not sure all are for Nikki, or just against a super creepy, very angry governor that’s REALLY bad at his job.
I’m definitely buying it. LOL
Ullr Rey
January 9, 2024 at 8:22 pm
Now that the Trump originated attack on a fellow Republican has been successful, the attack continues far longer than necessary and might threaten DeSantis’ ability to retain Florida’s Governorship. If Trump is disqualified, or his health fails, Republicans will have one less candidate to choose from.
S.K.H.
January 10, 2024 at 6:06 am
What??? How can Desantis’ Governorship be threatened? Florida has no recall statute for the governor and he’s currently serving his 2nd consecutive term, so…….
Comments are closed.