The second or third campaign reboot of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is already paying dividends in the Granite State.
Since March, the Florida governor has managed to go from a respectable double-digit second-place spot to a somewhat-embarrassing third-place single-digit spot behind the most unpopular former governor in the country, Chris Christie.
Trump still leads in New Hampshire, of course, but the second position has mainly been occupied by DeSantis, until now, according to the latest numbers from Emerson College:
Forty-nine percent (49%) of Republican Primary voters in New Hampshire plan to support former President Donald Trump for the 2024 nomination, a 40-point advantage over all other candidates, similar to his 41-point lead in March. As the field of candidates has come more into focus since March, Florida Governor DeSantis no longer holds second place with double digits, instead has fallen to 8%.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie surpassed DeSantis for second-place in the Republican field: 9% of voters support his 2024 bid, while 8% support DeSantis.
“DeSantis has been the alternative to Trump in Emerson polling this presidential cycle. This is the first time we have seen DeSantis drop out of second place in our polling, and fall back into the pack of candidates,” Kimball said.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (SC) follows with 6%, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Nikki Haley receive 4% respectively. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trails at 3%, businessman Perry Johnson at 2%, former Vice President Mike Pence at 1%, and former Rep. Will Hurd at 1%. Thirteen percent (13%) of voters remain undecided.
Keep in mind, everyone knows Christie will not be the nominee. He’s running far behind in other states not located in the Northeast and he’s basically a non-entity in Iowa.
However, for DeSantis, the once-appointed destroyer of Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy to be losing ground in a very crucial primary contest cannot be causing good vibes down in Tallahassee.
Here’s the chart form if you want something visual:
If Trump’s still solidly running 40 points ahead of everyone, New Hampshire isn’t really a contest for first. A competitive race for second place is sometimes meaningful but perhaps it’s more crucial at this point to look at third place.
Back in June, Politico pointed out that it’s not just Trump in Christie’s sights, it’s DeSantis as well:
When Chris Christie jumped into the crowded Republican presidential primary, it was with the expectation that he would aim his fire at his ally-turned-nemesis, Donald Trump.
But, on numerous occasions, it’s been Ron DeSantis who is getting hit with shrapnel — and Christie’s team says that’s no accident.
He has called out DeSantis — and other down-in-the-polls Republicans — for acquiescing to Trump as the former president faces two indictments. He’s also taken to contrasting their gubernatorial records, seeking to diminish DeSantis’ go-getter pitch by comparing the GOP-friendly political climate in Florida to the Democratic state he led for eight years.
He went on to joke that Republicans like DeSantis who have danced around mentioning Trump’s legal troubles are treating him like Voldemort — the fictional villain in the Harry Potter series whose name is forbidden.
Christie is on a mission to destroy Trump and anything that walks and talks like Trump. Thus, DeSantis is getting in the way and taking some fire as well. Naturally, in a primary where Trump commands 50% of the vote, Christie’s mostly preaching to the Lincoln Project choir, but maybe he’s consolidating the never-Trump vote in New Hampshire because he’s the most vociferous in his criticism of the former president.
Whatever the case, DeSantis is moving in the wrong direction after several high-profile staff shake-ups and messy campaign reboots.
