Trump Losing GOP Support for 2024 Run as Jan. 6 Hearings Unfold: Poll

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by h2oape
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Former President Donald Trump appears to be losing support among Republican voters for a 2024 White House bid as the public hearings of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack against the U.S. Capitol have unfolded, new polling suggests.

Trump has not officially confirmed that he plans to seek another presidential term but has repeatedly hinted at the idea as a strong possibility. While polls have generally shown the former president as the clear frontrunner for the Republican Party's nomination, his viability might be taking a hit as the January 6 hearings feature what many view as damning testimony by his own former administration officials and other Republicans.

Polling data by Reuters/Ipsos released on Thursday shows that Trump is losing support among GOP voters for a 2024 presidential run. Survey data collected from July 20 to 21 showed that about one-third (32 percent) of Republicans "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed with the statement that Trump "should NOT run for president again in 2024." That was an increase from about one-quarter (26 percent) who said the same just six weeks ago.

Additionally, in the previous early-June poll, 51 percent of Republicans "strongly" disagreed with the statement that Trump shouldn't seek another term. That level of strong disapproval with the statement dipped 10 points to 41 percent in the latest survey.

Relatedly, the level of Republicans who believe Trump is at least partially responsible for January 6 has increased as well. In June, one-third (33 percent) "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed with the statement that the former president is at least "partly to blame for starting" the Capitol riot. In July, that amount has increased to 40 percent.

Among GOP respondents to the July survey, 9 percent said Trump was "fully" responsible for January 6, while 15 percent said "largely" and 29 percent said "partially." At the same time, a majority of Republicans still expressed belief in Trump's misinformation, with 55 percent saying that they "strongly" or "somewhat" agree that the 2020 election was stolen. However, that level has gone down 11 points in six weeks.

Other potential Republican 2024 candidates continue to draw buzz from analysts and lawmakers. Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, has increased appearances at conservative events in recent weeks and has made some high-profile endorsements against his former boss' preferred candidates in key primary races. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be the most popular GOP candidate after Trump, according to multiple polls.

"I've heard a lot of people that really want to look at some fresh blood. I'm sure we'll have some of the same folks engaging in the opportunity. It's an open opportunity for everyone," Senator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican who serves in leadership, told Politico for an article published Friday.

She said that in the end, "it's up to our voters to decide."

Spacebotzero on July 23rd, 2022 at 02:29 UTC »

He's a piece of shit traitor. I couldn't be more disgusted by him and those that encouraged him.

kthulhu666 on July 23rd, 2022 at 02:28 UTC »

It would be a shame if he failed to get the GOP nomination, then ran as an independent.

Whoops-Wow-Woah on July 23rd, 2022 at 02:00 UTC »

Indict him.