Donald Trump’s national poll numbers experienced a six-point slide after he chose not to participate in the initial Republican debate last week. Despite this dip, and a total eight-point reduction in his lead over other candidates, he still holds a significant 38-point lead, as per Emerson College Polling’s latest survey released this Monday.
Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina, emerged as the biggest gainer, surging by five points after a commendable debate performance.
Spencer Kimball, the Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, stated:
‘While Trump saw a slight dip in support, the question from this poll is whether this is a blip for Trump or if the other Republican candidates will be able to rally enough support to be competitive for the caucus and primary season.’
Trump deliberately avoided the Milwaukee debate last week, aware that his rivals would exploit his celebrity status for their benefit. A DailyMail.com poll indicated that a vast majority of Republican viewers believed Trump made the correct decision. However, the Emerson College poll showed a six-point decline in his overall support compared to the previous week.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s nearest competitor, gained two points amidst ongoing efforts to overcome weeks of adverse publicity. Conversely, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, the debate’s standout performer according to the DailyMail.com poll, lost a point from the pre-debate poll.
Interestingly, former Vice President Mike Pence, who dominated the debate with his aggressive approach, secured a four-point increase, receiving seven percent of voter support. Similarly, Haley, who criticized Ramaswamy for his insufficient foreign policy expertise, also garnered seven percent.
Furthermore, Haley’s support among voters over 50 increased from approximately two percent to nine percent, while Trump’s support within this demographic decreased from roughly 56 percent to 49 percent post-debate.
Nonetheless, Trump continues to dominate as the obvious frontrunner across multiple polls.
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