At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Donald Trump secured an overwhelming majority of support among Republican voters, capturing 94% of the vote in an internal poll, with Nikki Haley trailing significantly at 5%.
This marks the seventh consecutive year Trump has dominated the CPAC poll as the preferred Republican nominee. His job approval rating among the 1,478 respondents also remains high at 96%.
The timing of these results coincides with the South Carolina primary, where Trump is expected to outperform Haley. His CPAC speech, where he positioned himself as a ‘political dissident’, precedes his anticipated victory speech in South Carolina.
Trump (Credits: ABC News)
The CPAC survey also explored potential vice-presidential candidates, with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem leading the pack, each securing 15% of the vote.
Other notable figures like former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Representative Elise Stefanik, and Senator Tim Scott also featured prominently in the poll.
Trump’s consideration of potential running mates has been a topic of much speculation, with names like Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Byron Donalds, Kristi Noem, and Tulsi Gabbard being floated by the former president himself. Trump has expressed a positive view of all the mentioned potential candidates, highlighting their strengths and contributions.
CPAC attendees also expressed skepticism about Joe Biden’s likelihood of being the Democratic nominee in 2024, predicting instead that former First Lady Michelle Obama could be a contender, with California Governor Gavin Newsom as another potential candidate.
Throughout the conference, potential running mates for Trump, including Noem and Stefanik, praised his leadership and criticized the current Biden administration, aligning closely with Trump’s political stance and narrative.
As the political landscape continues to evolve leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the CPAC poll results underscore Trump’s enduring influence and support within the Republican Party, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly contested and closely watched election cycle.
