Former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the GOP field as the Iowa caucuses draw near, according to a recent poll by NBC News/Des Moines Register. Trump holds a strong lead with 48% of support, slightly down from the 51% recorded in a December poll. This significant margin of victory, if maintained, would be unprecedented for a non-incumbent participating in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses.
In second place is former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has made a significant leap to secure 20% support. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was previously in second place, has fallen to third with 16% backing. Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trails behind with just 8% support.
The poll reveals a notable enthusiasm gap among supporters, with nearly half of Trump’s supporters being extremely enthusiastic, compared to only 9% of Haley’s supporters. Pollster J. Ann Selzer points out that this enthusiasm gap could be a weakness for Haley, as a disproportionate share of her supporters might choose to stay at home if turnout is low.
The final week of campaigning leading up to the caucuses was marked by a tumultuous winter storm that impacted much of Iowa. Haley and DeSantis engaged in a fiery televised debate and continued to campaign despite the frigid weather. Meanwhile, Trump spent a significant portion of the week addressing various legal proceedings.
With the New Hampshire primary approaching, even a narrow victory in Iowa could compel the third-place contender to withdraw, allowing for a consolidation of the anti-Trump vote. The outcome of the Iowa caucuses will likely have significant implications for the rest of the Republican primary race.
It is important to note that this article was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. The accompanying photo is courtesy of Shutterstock.
