Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deflected a question about polling for the 2024 presidential race during his trip to Japan on Monday. DeSantis, who has been consistently polling as a top possible contender in GOP primary hypotheticals, has made moves that have fueled speculation about a potential campaign. Recent polling data shows former President Donald Trump pulling further ahead of the GOP field, raising concerns within DeSantis' own party regarding his strength and urgency surrounding the race.
During his four-country trip, Gov. DeSantis had meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussions with congressional Republicans in Washington D.C earlier this month. The governor dismissed falling poll numbers while touring Japan by claiming that it doesn't matter if he lags behind Trump because he isn't officially in the running yet.
"The poll numbers could change soon," said Gov. Ron DeSantis when addressing questions about his Republican primary candidacy status but refrained from taking any steps toward making an official announcement.
The comments come after NBC News released its first national 2024 primary poll on Sunday showing former President Trump leading over De Santis by 15 percent – only six percent of Americans want to see a rematch between Trump and current President Joe Biden in 2020.
Other potential candidates such as Nikki Haley (former South Carolina Governor), Asa Hutchinson (former Arkansas Governor), and Vivek Ramaswamy are trailing at two percent each in recent polls while former Vice President Mike Pence is tied for fourth place alongside Haley at four percent apiece.
Despite his lead over De Santis in these polls, it appears that attacking lines against the governor may not be beneficial for Trump's campaign strategy which often involves mocking opponents and political rivals alike.
Gov. Ron DeSantis saw his lead narrow significantly compared to previous months; from March 31, Trump held a 45.9% to 30.1% lead over DeSantis, which now stands at 52.4% to 23.4%. While in Japan on Monday, the governor discussed national security concerns such as North Korea and China. He has signaled that he will reveal his intentions for the 2024 race after Florida's legislative sessions conclude at the end of May.
As speculation around Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign continues to grow, both within his party and among political analysts, all eyes will be on how things unfold leading up to potential announcements and shifting polls in this ever-evolving political landscape.