Former President Donald Trump’s poll numbers are unindictable — pre-indictment.
His 53.2% national average, tallied by Real Clear Politics, is a football field ahead of the 22.4% Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds in second place. All others drop so far behind it doesn’t seem like a race, yet.
DeSantis was quick to blast the Justice Department for targeting the ex-president in a 37-count indictment.
“Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?” tweeted DeSantis, referring to Hillary Clinton and her secret server and presidential trainwreck son Hunter Biden.
The real test will come in the weeks ahead as pollsters chart the fallout from the DOJ’s indictment of Trump. Until then, it’s a game of survival and lukewarm support by other GOP presidential rivals.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley holds an anemic 4.4% national polling average far back in third place. Former VP Mike Pence, also given the job by Trump, is next with 3.8%.
The rest include: Vivek Ramaswamy (2.6%); South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (1.6%); former NJ Gov. Chris Christie (1%); with Asa Hutchinson with less than 1%.
Yet, unlike most in his party, Hutchinson wasn’t quick to defend Trump, being quoted as saying: “Donald Trump’s actions—from his willful disregard for the constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law—should not define our nation or the Republican party.”
Christie wants to see “more facts” and Ramaswamy tweeted he’d “pardon” Trump if elected.
As for President Biden, he’s blasting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 59.3% to 16.8%, in a Real Clear Politics national average. But, Kennedy “is doing unexpectedly well in some polls,” the Hill is reporting.
Veteran pollster John Zogby told the Herald Friday night pollsters are just now preparing to “go into the field” to gauge the reaction to Trump’s indictment with results not likely until Sunday.
“There’s no polling data on this right now,” he said, “but there is some data showing Trump’s lead over DeSantis is tightening, especially in Iowa.”
How likely voters digest the allegations against the former president could upend the GOP 2024 race or just pump more contributions into Trump’s war chest making him even more indestructible.
Time will tell.