Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has made headlines on Democrat media stations and left-leaning political websites. However, his popularity among GOP primary voters is not as strong.
According to an IPSOS poll sponsored by Thompson Reuters, Christie, and fellow #45 antangonist Liz Cheney polled at 0% amongst Republican voters.
The situation doesn’t look favorable for Christie in another poll conducted by Morning Consult, where he emerged as the least favorable among all 2024 GOP presidential candidates. A significant 45% of Republican voters viewed him unfavorably, while the second most unfavorable candidate, former Vice President Mike Pence, received 39% unfavorable views.
Both Christie and Pence, seen as former Trump loyalists who turned against the former president, face challenges in gaining broad support. Surprisingly, 13% of Republican voters are not even familiar with Christie’s name. Only 24% of respondents regarded him as a favorable candidate.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican primary field with a commanding lead of 47%. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has experienced a drop in support, going down to 13% from mid-July, losing six points.
Around 45% of Republicans indicated that they would not support Trump if he were convicted of a felony by a jury. Conversely, more than one-third (35%) of Republicans would still back him, while 20% remain uncertain about their stance.
The survey also indicates that if Trump were to face a felony conviction, 35% of Republicans would still rally behind him, compared to only 19% for an unnamed candidate. This suggests that Trump’s popularity among his base remains relatively strong despite potential legal challenges.
The data highlights a partisan difference in response to these scenarios. Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to vote for an unnamed candidate if they were convicted of a felony by a jury. Similarly, Republicans are slightly more inclined than Democrats to support a candidate who is currently in prison.
These findings underscore the enduring influence of Donald Trump within the Republican party and indicate that his supporters remain steadfast despite potential legal troubles. However, the decline in support for Ron DeSantis indicates that the Republican primary field is still open to shifts and changes as the 2024 election approaches.