Polls show Donald Trump leading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his nearest rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, by about 40 points. You might think this would cause the former president’s GOP rivals to attack him in an attempt to eat into that support, which stands at north of 50% […] Read more »
For the GOP, it’s all over but the shouting … and there will be plenty of shouting
Watching this fight for the Republican presidential nomination is like watching a race or a game that feels fixed from the beginning. For all intents and purposes, former President Trump is effectively an incumbent seeking renomination. It is not and has not been an “open” contest with several hopefuls having […] Read more »
First Republican debate guide: Four types of GOP primary voters, and just how solid is that Trump vote?
Former President Donald Trump has such a big lead in the Republican nomination contest — and is, voters tell us, such a dominant topic of the campaign — that we can even define primary voter segments around him. That helps explore just how solid his support really is. Trump has […] Read more »
At the first Republican debate what policy goals do voters want to hear? Stopping abortions isn’t a top one
… Fewer than half the GOP primary electorate would prefer a nominee who supports a national abortion ban, and for many others, policy on that doesn’t matter either way. Our latest CBS News Poll asked Republican primary voters about a range of policy goals and how important it is to […] Read more »
Explaining Republican Loyalty to Trump: The Crucial Role of Negative Partisanship
Key Points• Negative partisanship — the tendency for partisans to be animated by dislike for the other side — has become a powerful force in American politics.• This dynamic makes it harder for partisans to cross over to the other side and keeps general elections quite competitive.• Attacks on Donald […] Read more »
Why Republican voters believe Trump
When the Republican presidential candidates gather for their first debate this week, the encounter is likely to center on the legal problems of the man all of them are chasing. Former President Donald Trump has solidified his lead in the GOP race by convincing most Republican voters to view his […] Read more »