Pence and Scott gain slight poll boosts post-Trump indictment.
Second-tier 2024 Republican hopefuls find a glimmer of hope amid Trump’s legal troubles
Former President Donald Trump’s legal woes have created a small opening for second-tier 2024 Republican primary candidates.
While former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) have seen some improvement in their standings since Trump’s second indictment, they still trail behind the former president, who maintains majority support.
Increasing Support for Pence and Scott
Despite the uphill battle, both Pence and Scott have managed to gain more support, albeit in small increments.
Scott, who was averaging 2% support when Trump’s second indictment was announced, has now risen to 3.5% according to RealClearPolitics and early polls. His ad spending, particularly in Iowa, has also contributed to his growing popularity.
“We always believed the more people got to know Tim, the more they’d be attracted to his message of restoring hope and creating opportunity for all Americans,” said Scott’s communications adviser Matt Gorman. “That’s why the Left fears him the most.”
Pence has also experienced a 2 percentage point increase in his polling numbers, rising from an average of 4% to 6%. His campaign announcement coincided with Trump’s federal indictment, which may have contributed to his recent surge in popularity.
Pence advisers credit his rise to him “clearly” establishing himself as the “best alternative” to Trump. They believe he embodies the best qualities of Ronald Reagan and the Trump-Pence administration without any questions regarding his character or on-the-job training.
Both Pence and Scott have distanced themselves from Trump on certain issues, such as the First Step Act, entitlements, and respecting the Constitution. This sets them apart from other candidates in the field.
Trump’s Support and DeSantis’ Challenge
Since his second indictment, Trump’s support initially increased from 54% to 56% before dropping to 52%. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), positioning himself as a more competent and drama-free alternative to Trump, has seen a slight decline in support from 25% to 22%. However, DeSantis still maintains a double-digit advantage over Pence, Scott, and the rest of the field.
“Despite Team Trump spending months and $20 million on false attacks against Ron DeSantis to try to knock him out of the fight, this remains a two-person race, and voters are not buying Team Trump’s lies,” said DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo. “They are terrified of Ron DeSantis and his ability to do the two things Trump couldn’t: beat Joe Biden and lead the ‘Great American Comeback.'”
During a New Hampshire town hall, DeSantis emphasized the importance of focusing on Biden’s failures and their vision for the future rather than re-litigating past events.
Trump, who was also in New Hampshire, addressed the state’s Federation of Republican Women’s Lilac Luncheon, expressing his mission to “liberate our nation from a corrupt Washington swamp that’s destroying America.”
Following the event, Trump responded to a leaked recording in which he allegedly disclosed classified information about Iran. He dismissed the allegations as another hoax and shifted the blame to Biden.
Speculation Surrounding Trump’s Electability
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) unintentionally fueled speculation about Trump’s electability when he stated that he did not “know” whether the former president is the “strongest” contender for the next election.
“As usual, the media is attempting to drive a wedge between President Trump and House Republicans as our committees are holding Biden’s Department of Justice accountable for their two-tiered levels of justice,” McCarthy later clarified. “Just look at the numbers this morning — Trump is stronger today than he was in 2016.”
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Trump’s support remains strong, and the race for the 2024 Republican primary continues to unfold.
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