According to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll, three leading Republican presidential candidates — former President Donald Trump, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — would all beat President Joe Biden in a hypothetical one-on-one general election. The poll was conducted from January 10 to 12, providing a snapshot of current public sentiment.
In this hypothetical match-up, Nikki Haley would lead Biden by the most significant margin, securing 53% of votes compared to Biden’s 45%. Following closely, DeSantis would secure 51% of votes against Biden’s 48%. Trump would hypothetically edge out Biden by two percentage points, garnering 50% to Biden’s 48%.
As the Iowa caucuses commence, Trump’s support appears robust, with a double-digit lead over both Haley and DeSantis. Interestingly, the poll suggests that Trump’s indictments may have bolstered rather than diminished his popularity. More supporters report voting to back him amidst his legal battles, as opposed to voting for him despite them.
Meanwhile, the economy seems to be dragging down Biden’s ratings. Only 21% of voters believe they would be better off financially with Biden in office. Notably, over a third of Democrats express that a strong economy is a more pressing concern than having a functioning democracy.
This poll is not an isolated instance. Other surveys have also indicated that the Republican candidates could outperform Biden in a hypothetical general election. For example, an Issues & Insights/TIPP poll from the beginning of this month gave Trump a slightly larger lead of 37% to Biden’s 34% when third-party candidates are considered.
Haley has consistently performed well against Biden in several recent polls, a fact she has highlighted. A Wall Street Journal poll conducted between late November and early December showed Haley leading Biden by 17 points, 51% to Biden’s 34%. “Every one of those polls and against Biden, I beat him by double digits, by 17 points,” Haley stated recently.
However, there are exceptions to these results. A Rasmussen Reports poll from earlier this month shows both Trump beating Biden by eight points and DeSantis beating Biden by two points, while Haley trails Biden by two.
These poll results provide a fascinating glimpse into the potential outcomes of the upcoming election. However, they are only hypothetical scenarios at this point. The actual election results will ultimately depend on numerous factors, including candidate performances, policy proposals, and real-world events leading up to Election Day.