It’s just one survey, but the latest Marquette University Law School poll not only shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis beating former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary, but it shows him beating President Joe Biden in the general election as well.
Among 1,000 adults polled between Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, DeSantis leads Trump in a Republican primary matchup 60%-40%. DeSantis also would beat Biden in a presidential matchup 39%-37%. The same poll has Trump losing to Biden, again, this time 39%-34%.
In a Republican primary, DeSantis’s strength over Trump comes from “Lean Republicans.” Among “Strong Republicans,” DeSantis beats Trump only 52%-48%. But among “Lean Republicans,” DeSantis wins 63%-36%.
Turning to a general election matchup, Trump beats Biden easily among those with a High School education 42%-34%. But Trump loses to Biden among those with some higher education 34%-33% and among those with a college degree 34%-35%.
DeSantis, meanwhile, maintains Trump’s strong lead among those with a High School education, beating Biden 44%-33%, but then DeSantis also beats Biden among those with some higher education 38%-35% and among those with a college degree 45%-38%. The only education demographic that DeSantis loses is those with a graduate degree 34%-51%. But Trump lost this group even worse, 21%-59%.
DeSantis also does better among blacks and Hispanics than Trump. Among blacks, Biden beats Trump 48%-18% but only beats DeSantis 50%-23%. Among Hispanics, Biden beats Trump 40%-29% but only beats DeSantis 39%-31%.
The 2024 Republican primaries don’t begin for another 13 months and, more importantly, DeSantis hasn’t announced he is running yet. But considering what a terrible two weeks Trump has had since he announced his run, it is becoming increasingly hard to see how he turns his failing campaign around.
