In this busy news week for the 2024 presidential contest, Harvard’s monthly Harris Poll broke down where different contenders and political figures stand as the field of White House hopefuls grows.
Why It Matters: The three most popular figures of those polled are, in descending order, Elon Musk, former President Donald Trump, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Musk, the world’s second richest man, is in no danger of seeking the presidency due to being a foreign-born citizen; the other two have distinctly different standings.
By the Numbers:
State of Play: Also of note: 60% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track compared to 31% who say the opposite. Biden is in a bleak position as he attempts to revive his political operation and turn it into a re-election machine. Meanwhile in the GOP, DeSantis formally jumped into the nomination contest, where a majority (57%) of Republicans believe the Governor of the nation’s third-largest state is ready to give Trump a real challenge for the nomination.
The Bottom Line: A staggering 66% of Americans think that there should be another alternative if Trump and Biden are the nominees for President in 2024; 63% believe Biden should not run for re-election, while 54% believe Trump should not run again. Americans are looking for substitutes for Trump and Biden; since Democrats seemingly have decided as a party to stand by Biden, it’s up to Republican voters to evaluate the GOP field of candidates and provide a strong alternative to what the electorate at-large is rejecting.
