A new national poll of Republicans gives the latest indication that Gov. Ron DeSantis would struggle with voters should he run for President again in 2028.
DeSantis, who ran in 2024 before withdrawing after failing to win a single county in the Iowa caucuses, has just 2% support in the latest survey from Emerson College.
This is his worst overall performance in any survey yet, and even the 2% was rounding up from 1.7% in the raw totals.
Year over year, he’s lost more than half of his support, according to this pollster. He was at 5% when the survey was administered last November.
Vice President JD Vance leads all potential candidates with 54% support, while another 25% are undecided.
Another 7% back President Donald Trump, who can’t run for a third term, per the Constitution.
An additional 6% support Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with 6% more wanting someone else.
The poll’s release on Friday coincides with POLITICO reporting that Rubio says Vance is the likely nominee.
“Marco has been very clear that JD is going to be the Republican nominee if he wants to be,” a source said. “He will do anything he can just to support the Vice President in that effort.”
POLITICO also notes that Rubio and Vance “have downplayed any hint of conflict and administration officials insist the potential rivals are close confidants.”
“Their policy discussions often include Susie Wiles, Trump’s Chief of Staff, who hosts them in her office ahead of key discussions with the President.”
The Emerson poll is the latest disappointing DeSantis survey.
Last week, a poll from the University of New Hampshire found DeSantis at 3% in the Granite State, behind Vance (51%), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley (9%), National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard (8%), Rubio (5%), Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (4%) and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky (4%).