Posted on 04/24/23
| News Source: Newsmax
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dismissed recent polling that showed him losing ground in a possible 2024 Republican presidential race against former President Donald Trump, his top likely rival.
"I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes," DeSantis told reporters during a trip in Japan on Monday.
Trump's edge over DeSantis has widened in most polling, the Washington Examiner reported. On March 31, Trump had a 45.9% to 30.1% lead, according to the RealClear Politics polling aggregate. Now, that lead has jumped to 52.4% to 23.4%.
DeSantis may have lost ground to Trump after referring to the war in Ukraine as a "territorial dispute" and after his continuing feud with Disney.
DeSantis was supposed to be more electable than Trump, The New York Times reported: "But there are growing questions about Mr. DeSantis's own ability to win over the independent and suburban voters who delivered the White House to President Biden, and whether the hard-line stances the governor has taken, including on abortion, will repel the very voters he promises to win back. His feuding with Disney — including an offhand remark this week suggesting he would put a state prison next to Disney World — has raised alarms, even among would-be allies."
DeSantis still remains Trump's chief likely rival in a hypothetical GOP field, the Washington Examiner noted.