CPAC 2023: Trump wins straw poll, DeSantis loses support
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OXON HILL, Maryland — Former President Donald Trump is the reanointed king of the CPAC, winning the conference’s straw poll as the Republican Party prepares to pick its 2024 presidential nominee.
Trump had 62% support to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) 20%, according to Republican pollster Jim McLaughlin on Saturday. A record 2,028 people responded to the poll.
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Roughly six out of 10 people were unsure whether President Joe Biden would be the 2024 Democratic nominee, many raising the prospect of Biden being replaced by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). Almost 80% disagreed with more military spending on Ukraine.
Trump has dominated the poll since 2019, although DeSantis had increased his support since 2021. Trump had 55% of the vote to DeSantis’ 21% that year. Last year, Trump attracted 59% to DeSantis’ 28%.
The CPAC straw poll’s methodology is disputed, with former Republican presidential candidates, such as now-Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), accused of bringing in his supporters to the conference for the survey.
The poll has also not always been a reliable indicator of the eventual Republican nominee. For instance, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) earned 40% support in 2016 and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was his runner-up with 30%. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the favored candidate the year before, with 26% of the vote to then-Gov. Scott Walker’s (R-WI) 21%.
At the same time, it is demonstrative of the base, with CPAC returning to D.C. post-pandemic this year more closely aligned with Trump, showcasing his family, allies, and administration alumni.
Trump is 2023 CPAC’s headline speaker, closing the conference Saturday evening. His only major declared opponent for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination so far, former U.N. ambassador and two-term South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, addressed the group Friday afternoon, as did multi-millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who announced his own candidacy last month. Trump Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who is considering launching his own campaign, spoke Thursday.
Haley’s remarks were tepidly received by the crowd, including her stump speech reference to Republicans losing seven of the eight last presidential election popular votes and her proposal for politicians older than 75 years of age — such as Trump — to take a mandatory competency test. She was additionally heckled by Trump supporters as she posed for selfies with fans afterward.
DeSantis, Trump’s main adversary, at least according to early, more scientific polling, opted out of CPAC, appearing at the Club for Growth retreat this week in Palm Beach, Florida instead. The anti-tax organization, which donated $20.5 million during last year’s midterm elections, did not invite Trump to the event, but DeSantis’ absence from CPAC is notable based on his appeal to MAGA supporters.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, Govs. Chris Sununu (R-NH) and Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), in addition to term-limited Govs. Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Asa Hutchinson (R-AK), as well as Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who all harbor presidential aspirations, also did not attend CPAC amid Trump’s built-in advantage and denied sexual misconduct allegations made against conference organizer Matt Schlapp.
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“The only reason certain ‘candidates’ won’t be going to CPAC is because the crowds have no interest in anything they have to say,” Trump said this week on social media. “See you there, and don’t forget to vote in the important Straw Poll!”
Trump averages 45% support in early Republican presidential primary polls, according to RealClearPolitics. DeSantis averages 29% of the vote, Pence 7%, Haley 5%, Pompeo 2%, and Scott 1%.
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Tags: Donald Trump, News, Ron DeSantis, 2024 Elections, CPAC
Original Author: Naomi Lim
Original Location: CPAC 2023: Trump wins straw poll, DeSantis loses support