- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds one of the highest favorability ratings in the nation, according to a new Harvard poll
- Should former PResident Donald Trump elect not to run in 2024, DeSantis is the party’s clear second choice
- A recent interview indicated that Trump would entertain the notion of DeSantis as a running mate
- DeSantis still has yet to make a public decision regarding the 2024 election
A new poll published by the Center for American Politics at Harvard University indicates that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is among the most positively-viewed lawmakers in the country, topping a series of fellow GOP party mates in terms of net ratings.
The poll asked respondents their level of favorability and unfavorability for various lawmakers across the nation. Unsurprisingly, former President Donald Trump tops all individuals with a 42 percents net favorability rating. DeSantis trails closely behind at 34 percent total favorability but stands as the politician with the highest net total, with just 27 percent of respondents of participants viewing the governor in a negative light.
Compared to Trump, who has a net rating of negative 12 percent, and Texas Representative Ted Cruz, DeSantis stands to be a winner of the poll, with a 7 percent net favorability rating, boding well for his national stakes ahead of the 2022 midterms.
When asked who polling respondents would vote for should the 2024 GOP primary occur today, respondents overwhelming chose Trump, but made clear that DeSantis is the party’s second choice. Given a second question positing that Trump elects not to run in 2024, DeSantis was a runaway favorite, receiving 36 percent of the vote and doubling second-place Mike Pence.
In a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump stated that he is not ruling out the possibility of a Trump-DeSantis ticket for a 2024 Presidential run.
When asked during the interview, Trump claimed a strong relationship with DeSantis and could be open to the idea of a joint ticket between the two men seen as favorites to win the White House.
“Could you envision a world, sir, where there is a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024,” asked reporter Rob Finnerty.
“Well, I get along with him,” Trump replied. “I was very responsible for his success because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship.”
Trump in 2018 extended an endorsement to then-gubernatorial candidate DeSantis in his race against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. Trump’s nod of approval helped DeSantis shoot up poll rankings and ultimately scrape by Gillum, winning the governorship by fewer than 30,000 votes.
With potential presidential goals of his own, DeSantis may see Trump as a primary opponent rather than a possible running mate. DeSantis has remained mum, repeatedly sidestepping when asked if a 2024 presidential run was on his radar.
“The interesting thing about me is people will always inject my name into it, just based off what I’m doing in Florida,” DeSantis told Fox News. “It’s a little bit different for me. I think there are obviously people that, the minute 2020 ended, have been basically running, and they’re going around doing all that stuff. That’s just not what I’ve been doing. I’ve just been focusing on the task at hand.”
While DeSantis has been elusive on his future in the political arena, Trump has chosen to brandish his sword as chatter inside conservative circles continues to swell about the popular governor being a younger, more refined candidate.