![DALLAS, TEXAS - AUGUST 06: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on August 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. CPAC began in 1974, and is a conference that brings together and hosts conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders in discussing current events and future political agendas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)](https://freeamericanetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/key-iowa-poll-shows-pres-trump-lapping-the-primary-field-haley-ties-desantis-for-second.jpg)
OAN’s Daniel Baldwin
7:55 AM – Monday, October 30, 2023
A crucial Iowa poll shows former President Donald Trump in the driver’s seat to win the Iowa caucus in January 2024.
The Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll revealed that 43% of likely Republican caucus goers pick Trump as their first choice for president. Meanwhile 16% of these caucus goers would pick either former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.). Trump leads both Haley and DeSantis by a whopping 27%.
Trump’s support appears to be rock solid as well, according to data from the poll. Sixty-three percent of caucus goers who say Trump is their first pick say they have made up their mind. Comparatively, only 30% and 26% of DeSantis and Haley supporters say the same respectively. In fact, 87% of respondents who say their first choice is Trump are either “extremely or very enthusiastic” about caucusing for the 45th president.
“[DeSantis and Haley] are on ground that you could only describe as shaky compared to the solid ground that Donald Trump stands on,” said pollster J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., which conducted the Iowa Poll.
“If anything, he’s showing improvement.”
The poll revealed that Trump is widening the margin between him and DeSantis regarding independent voters as well. In August, Trump only led the Florida governor by 2% among independent caucus goers (21%-19%). But now Trump has widened his advantage among this key demographic – leading DeSantis 33% to 12%.
Trump also leads the pack when it comes to first-time caucus goers with 49% saying the 45th president is their first choice for president.
This poll was conducted Oct. 22-26, 2023 and held 404 telephone interviews with registered voters in Iowa who claim they will definitely or probably attend the 2024 Republican caucuses.
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