An American flag flies above an antique horse-drawn farm tool in Holland, Michigan on August 6, 2023. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are now neck and neck, according to a recent poll by Emerson College. However, both are significantly behind former President Donald Trump, who continues to lead the pack. BONNIE JO MOUNT/THE WASHINGTON POST/GETTY IMAGES
The Republican presidential nomination is witnessing a tight contest.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are now neck and neck, according to a recent poll by Emerson College. However, both are significantly behind former President Donald Trump, who continues to lead the pack.
While Trump boasts a robust 56 percent of support from GOP voters, both DeSantis and Ramaswamy are locked at 10 percent. This is a notable shift for DeSantis, who previously enjoyed 21 percent support in June. On the other hand, Ramaswamy’s ascent from a mere 2 percent is quite remarkable, The Hill reported.
Amidst the political shuffle, a confidential memo from the DeSantis-supporting super PAC, Never Back Down, surfaced. It suggested that DeSantis should confront Ramaswamy more aggressively.
In response, Ramaswamy took to X last Thursday and said that it was another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation “Robot Ron.”
Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation “Robot Ron” who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s debate. “Hammer Ramaswamy.”pic.twitter.com/u8puIW88jS
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 17, 2023
Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling’s Executive Director, pointed out Ramaswamy’s increasing traction among voters with postgraduate degrees and young adults. Conversely, DeSantis’ popularity seems to be waning among these demographics.
The commitment to each candidate also varies among their supporters, with Ramaswamy’s backers showing a stronger resolve.
The forthcoming Republican primary debate is a golden chance for both candidates to make their mark, especially with Trump’s probable absence.
The survey, carried out between August 16-17, involved 1,000 registered voters. Of these, 465 expressed their intention to vote in the GOP primary or caucus. The poll’s credibility interval stands at 3 points.
Produced in association with Benzinga
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