A recent CBS News/YouGov survey has revealed that all Republican presidential candidates are currently leading President Joe Biden in the polls, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley holding the most significant advantage. The poll, which comes just before the Iowa caucuses, indicates a shifting political landscape as the 2024 presidential race heats up.
According to the survey, Haley is leading Biden by eight percentage points in a hypothetical matchup, with 53% of US adults nationwide supporting her compared to Biden’s 45%. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also ahead of Biden, leading by three percentage points (51% to 48%), while former President Donald Trump closely trails DeSantis in a head-to-head with Biden, at 50% to 48%.
The poll also shows that independent American voters are leaning towards the GOP candidates, with 59% supporting Haley, 55% backing DeSantis, and 54% favoring Trump. This trend among independents could be a crucial factor in the upcoming election.
The results come in the wake of Trump’s commanding victory in the Iowa caucuses, where he won all but one state precinct, which went to Haley by a single vote. Trump secured 51% of the votes in Iowa, with DeSantis and Haley receiving 21.2% and 19.1% respectively.
Trump, following his Iowa success, mockingly congratulated his competitors and emphasized the need for unity, saying, “We want to come together — whether it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative.”
Haley, in her post-caucuses speech, urged supporters to rally around her, appealing to voters who are seeking a fresh alternative and not a repeat of the 2020 election. She emphasized a vision for the country’s future free from past grievances and investigations.
The CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted from January 10 to 12 with a nationally representative sample of 2,870 US adults, points to a challenging race ahead for Biden. With a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, the poll signals a competitive field for the 2024 presidential race, suggesting that the outcome could hinge on the candidates’ ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters, including the crucial independent bloc.