Democrats have something major to worry about now.
A recent poll conducted by Shaw & Company Research indicates that former President Donald Trump’s popularity has surged in the early 2024 GOP primary states of Iowa and South Carolina. In Iowa, Trump commands a substantial lead with 46% support, far ahead of the second-place contender, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who received 16% support. The poll also shows that Trump’s backing in Iowa has grown even stronger compared to his support during the 2015/16 campaign.
According to Newsmax, the situation in South Carolina is even more remarkable, with Trump securing a staggering 48% support, leaving the other candidates trailing far behind. This is surprising considering South Carolina is the home state of some of Trump’s opponents, such as Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott. Trump’s lead is substantial, with DeSantis trailing at 13%, and Haley at 14%.
The poll results also highlight Trump’s significant lead over his rivals in both states. In Iowa, he holds a commanding 30-point advantage over DeSantis and a 34-point lead over Haley. In South Carolina, the margin is similarly wide, with Trump leading DeSantis by 35 points and Haley by 34 points.
Notably, this level of support in South Carolina contrasts with the 2016 race when Trump was at 32% and held a 13-point lead over his closest opponent, Senator Ted Cruz. The new polls show Trump’s popularity has only increased since then.
It’s essential to consider the significance of these early primary states, particularly South Carolina, which awards all 50 delegates to the winner. The presence of candidates like Haley and Scott, who are competing against Trump, poses challenges for DeSantis’ aspirations.
Shaw & Company Research conducted the polls between July 15-19, surveying 806 likely GOP voters in Iowa and 808 in South Carolina. The margin of error for both polls was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.