SUMMARY
- Ex-President Trump widens his lead over Republican counterparts despite facing additional federal criminal charges, reveals the latest NBC News poll.
- Half of the Republican primary voters are contemplating options other than Trump, suggesting a potential opening for other GOP candidates.
- Despite concerns from the majority of the general electorate about Trump's indictment, Trump's standing remains strong within the Republican base.
In the latest national NBC News poll, ex-President Donald Trump has broadened his advantage over the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, and the remaining Republican presidential candidates, despite facing additional federal criminal charges. However, the poll reveals that half of the Republican primary voters are contemplating options other than Trump, implying a potential chance for an opponent to secure the GOP nomination.
This sentiment prevails even as 60% of the Republicans assert that the indictments and investigations into Trump are driven by political intent.
Historically unprecedented, a former president is facing indictment, though it seems to have negligible effects on his standing, as noted by Republican pollster Bill McInturff from Public Opinion Strategies. His sentiments are echoed by Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates who mentioned that Republican voters seem to be increasingly supportive of Trump, and other candidates, DeSantis in particular, are losing ground.
Trump's real challenge, however, lies with the general electorate where the majority, inclusive of 55% independent voters, express concerns about Trump's recent federal criminal indictment. Nonetheless, the poll indicates reservations about both Trump's and Biden's mental and physical health and their potential subsequent term as president among the registered voters.
The NBC News poll, carried out between June 16-20, shows Trump's lead over his Republican presidential competitors widening in the aftermath of his federal indictment. It all started a week post a federal grand jury indicted Trump for mishandling classified documents discovered at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
The poll demonstrates that nearly half of Republican primary voters endorse Trump as the party’s leader. These voters predominantly choose Trump as their first choice on a primary ballot. However, 21% of these voters feel it's time to consider other leaders, even though they acknowledge Trump's successful presidency. Majority of these voters pick DeSantis as their first choice, yet Trump also draws support from one out of five from this group. It's noteworthy that 29% believe that the GOP needs a fresh leader, possessing better personal conduct and a distinct approach from Trump's.
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