A majority of Republicans are more interested in choosing a 2024 presidential candidate who is sympathetic to their views than someone who has a strong chance of defeating President Biden, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The CNN/SSRS poll of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents shows that 59% think it is more important for the party to nominate a candidate who shares its position on key issues, while 41% think the party should choose a candidate who can beat Biden.
This contrasts with the thinking of Democrats in March 2020, when 65% said in the same poll that it was more important that the party nominate someone who could defeat then-President Donald Trump, while only 29% said so. Said it is more important to exclude the share of the Democratic candidate. Same positions on the issues. 65% got their wish, as Biden, 80, won the nomination and defeated Trump, now 76, in the general election.
A large majority of Republicans — 87% — believe it is “essential” that a candidate demonstrate the mental acuity and physical strength needed to serve as president, while 58% believe the party’s standard-bearer should have Social Security. And must promise to preserve Medicare.
Smaller numbers believe it is “essential” that the nominee represents the future of the party (57%), support government action to oppose “woke” values (54%), than the party (54%). Gains outside support, and reinstates the Trump administration. policies (43%).
Another 44% say it is “important, but not essential” that the candidate believes the U.S. should not get involved in a war between Russia and Ukraine, while 36% nominate this position as “necessary.” They see
The poll shows Trump slightly leading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (40% to 36%) among national Republicans, while no other potential GOP contender is in double digits.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence come in at 6%, while Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sunu get 2%.
They are followed at 1% by former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
While Trump tops DeSantis in the polls, the governor holds an edge when voters’ other choices are taken into account, with 65% saying DeSantis would be their top two choices to be the GOP standard-bearer in 2024. is one of — while 59% say Trump is one of their top two.
Again, the would-be GOP candidates are far behind, with only 22% saying Pence is one of their top two choices and 15% saying Haley.
Additionally, 28% of respondents say they would be “angry” or “dissatisfied” if Trump were the 2024 GOP nominee, compared with 49% for Pence, 26% for Pompeo, and 24% for Haley. have to say and only 12% say the same about DeSantis.
Overall, 58% of respondents say Trump has had a positive impact on the Republican Party, down nine percentage points from the same poll two years ago.
The survey also shows that 70% believe all Republican candidates should pledge to support the nominee no matter who it is — a position Trump said he would not back down from.
Republicans and Republican-leaners also shared a bleak outlook for the future, with 70% saying America’s best days are in the past and only 30% saying they are ahead.
This is a significant difference from September 2019, when Trump was in the White House and 77% were optimistic about the future.
More than three-quarters of respondents (78%) also believe that society’s values on gender identity and sexual orientation are changing for the worse, while 9% say they are getting better.
The percentage of Republicans and GOP leaners who think American culture is enriched by having a population of different races and ethnic groups has fallen from 71% in September 2019 to 61%, compared to 38% and 20%. compared to, see diverse populations as threats. Three and a half years ago.
The CNN/SSRS poll surveyed 1,045 Republicans or Republican-leaning independents between March 8 and 12.
It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
