Trump takes the lead ahead of U.S. primaries
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The 2024 primary season in the United States begins with Donald Trump significantly outpacing his Republican rivals in key popularity indicators. Meanwhile, Joe Biden's job approval rating has fallen to its lowest level for any president in the last 15 years, according to ABC News.
According to a national poll conducted in Iowa, Trump is particularly highly regarded by Republicans and Republican independents on three measures: best chance of winning in November, strongest leader, and most qualified candidate for the party.
Trump also outperforms his Republican opponents, but by a smaller margin, on two other measures: empathy and shared values. Seven out of ten Republicans have a positive view of Trump.
Overall, 72% of Republican-leaning adults would be satisfied with Trump's nomination, up from 75% in May. 61% would be satisfied with Ron DeSantis. Other candidates scored lower: Nikki Haley - 48%; Vivek Ramasavamy - 44%; Chris Christie (who withdrew his candidacy) - 23%; Asa Hutchinson - 17%.
Compared to Trump on the Republican side, significantly fewer Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would be satisfied with their party's nomination of Biden (57%), reflecting his overall weak ratings on issues such as the economy and immigration.
Primaries are the first stage of a two-tiered voting system in which a political party selects a single candidate to run in the general election.
U.S. elections and problems with Trump's nomination
The next U.S. presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.
According to forecasts, the main Democratic candidate will be the current American leader, Joe Biden. In addition to Donald Trump, seven other candidates ran for the Republicans. After Chris Christie dropped out, there were six of them. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is considered one of the main Republican favorites, in addition to Trump.
On December 28, Donald Trump's name was removed from the ballot in the Maine primary. The decision is based on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to the head of the state's election commission, Shenna Bellows. It prohibits the participation in elections of organizers and participants in the rebellion, which the court recognized as the storming of the Capitol by Trumpists on January 6, 2021.
On December 20, the Colorado Supreme Court also banned Trump from participating in the state's primaries under the 14th Amendment.
Trump's team appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court's decision is likely to be applied across the country.
