(RepublicanInformer.com)- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis decisively won the presidential straw poll held at the Wisconsin state Republican convention over the weekend.
DeSantis bested former President Donald Trump by six points, 38 percent to 32 percent. A far distant third place went to former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley who garnered 7 percent of the vote. Everybody else trailed behind in the single-digits.
And while this straw poll isn’t particularly scientific, it does suggest that 2024 is shaping up to be a two-way battle between Trump and DeSantis, should both of them decide to run.
Wisconsin Republicans were also polled on whether they wanted Donald Trump to run again in 2024. While 41 percent said they wanted Trump to take another run at the White House, the majority either didn’t want him to run (32 percent) or weren’t sure if they wanted him to run (22 percent).
Is it Trump fatigue? Have Republican voters moved on?
Admittedly, only 325 Wisconsin Republican Party members cast ballots in last weekend’s straw poll.
Nationwide, former President Trump is still polling as the favored candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. While in polls with Trump off the list, Ron DeSantis is far and away the preferred choice.
A May survey conducted among Texas Republicans shows Trump with 45 percent support with DeSantis in second place at 28 percent. However, DeSantis’ support in May is 8 points higher than it was in an April survey from the same polling outfit.
At this point, neither Trump nor DeSantis has announced a 2024 run. And with most voters more focused on the 2022 midterm, polling at this stage is probably premature.
What is undeniable is that Trump’s influence over voters in key states might be on the wane.
In Tuesday’s Georgia primary, Trump’s endorsed candidates for both Governor and Secretary of State both lost decisively.
Republican Governor Brian Kemp sailed to victory over Trump-endorsed challenger David Purdue. With over 96 percent of the vote counted, Kemp secured 73.7 percent to Purdue’s 21.8 percent.
In the primary race for Secretary of State, incumbent Brad Raffensperger holds a nearly 20-point lead over Trump-endorsed Jody Hice, 52.3 percent to 33.4 percent.