The recent Emerson College poll conducted in New Hampshire reveals a significant shift in the Republican primary race.
Although former President Donald Trump continues to lead the pack, ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has now surpassed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who appears to be losing ground.
Despite Trump's strong lead, his support in New Hampshire is slightly less robust than in other regions. The poll, conducted from August 9 to 11, shows Trump leading with 49 percent support. DeSantis, who had been a steady second-place holder, has slipped to third with 8 percent, narrowly trailing Christie's 9 percent. Interestingly, 13 percent of the 837 Republican primary voters surveyed across the state remain undecided.
Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, noted, "DeSantis has been the alternative to Trump in Emerson polling this presidential cycle. This is the first time we have seen DeSantis drop out of second place in our polling, and fall back into the pack of candidates."
The poll also highlighted a demographic divide, with voters aged 30 to 49 significantly more likely to support Trump over DeSantis. Trump secured 56 percent of this demographic, compared to DeSantis's 4 percent.
In the wake of the poll, Trump received his fourth indictment from a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia. However, he has managed to leverage these charges to rally support, framing them as politically motivated attacks by President Biden's Department of Justice on his leading rival ahead of an election.
Despite Trump's probable victory in the New Hampshire Republican primary, the poll suggests he may struggle in a general election against Biden.
In a hypothetical rematch of the 2020 election, Biden outperformed Trump in New Hampshire, securing 48 percent of the vote to Trump's 41 percent.
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