Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received good polling news from North Dakota as he tries to close the gap on former President Donald Trump in the national polls.
A new survey found that DeSantis is leading the field of all 2024 Republican presidential primary candidates other than Trump, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
While Trump received support of 54% of respondents, DeSantis garnered 14%, putting him ahead of Burgum, who came in at 12% in his home state. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley received 10%.
The differences between the non-Trump GOP candidates fell within the poll's 4.3-percentage point margin of error.
DeSantis could likely use a bright spot this week, as it was reported on Wednesday that his biggest donor for the 2024 presidential race is considering withdrawing his support and backing Trump.
"I've got to look at who would probably be the strongest commander, with the most experience ... And that's only one guy," real estate mogul Robert Bigelow told the Financial Times. "Who would you want as a commander? I'd want somebody that would be a hell of an ass kicker if he needed to be. On the face of it, you lean toward Trump."
Bigelow, who this year gave $20 million to the DeSantis-aligned super PAC Never Back Down, said that he changed his mind partly because Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel showed him that the U.S. needs a "streetwise" leader like Trump.
Bigelow also slammed a six-week abortion bill in Florida that DeSantis signed into law in April.
Still, DeSantis was one of the big winners from the Republican National Committee's third primary debate Wednesday night in Miami, according to veteran North Carolina political analyst Marc Rotterman.
Rotterman told Newsmax that DeSantis "was relaxed, on point, and seemed very presidential. He also personalized his answers and had his best night to date."
The North Dakota poll was conducted Nov. 5-7 and surveyed 517 likely voters. It has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.3 percentage points.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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