Former President Donald Trump has moved into his biggest 2024 lead yet over President Joe Biden as voters appear unconcerned about his legal woes.
In the just-released Rasmussen Reports survey, Trump moved ahead of Biden 47%-40% with support from women and independents.
Trump was trailing Biden 42%-45% in February, the last time the national polling firm conducted a 2024 head-to-head survey. Trump announced his candidacy in November.
Wednesday’s survey is the first 2024 general election testing since the Manhattan hush money indictment against the 45th president was released last week. It was conducted before Tuesday’s hearing, during which Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts.
Tomorrow AM: Reversal of Fortune
Massive Strategic Backfire – Stay Tuned. pic.twitter.com/rl0ujh9d2X
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) April 4, 2023
In a tweet on Wednesday teasing the results, Rasmussen showed its February numbers and wrote, “Reversal of Fortune — Massive Strategic Backfire.” The survey weighted Democrats heavier than Republicans and independents, 36%, 33%, 31%.
Biden also appeared weak against Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has an even bigger lead, 46%-38%.
Both DeSantis and Trump appear to be doing well among women and independent voters, which have been identified as key to winning in 2024. Trump leads Biden among women, 47%-39%. DeSantis leads among women 43%-39%.
With independent voters, Trump leads Biden 44%-36%, and it’s DeSantis over Biden 44%-32%.
Also significantly, Trump and DeSantis would have the support of 26% of black voters if the election were held today, said Rasmussen.
In a speech last night following his indictment, Trump presented his latest case to win back the White House, railing against multiple prosecutions that he charged were banana republic examples of “political persecution.” He also hit Biden’s handling of the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.
“Our country is going to hell,” he said.
