(FOX40.COM) \u2014 A new poll shows good news for Marco Rubio \u2014 but bad news for fellow 2028 presidential hopefuls JD Vance and Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n
The Emerson College Polling survey, released Thursday morning, shows a sharp decline in support for the vice president. Polls from February 2026 and August 2025 showed Vance with a commanding lead, with backing from a majority (52%) of Republican primary voters.<\/p>\n
That decrease mirrors an increase of enthusiasm for the secretary of state as Rubio is now virtually tied with Vance at 35%. That\u2019s up from 20% in February and just 9% last August. 5% of voters support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, respectively, while 15% are undecided.<\/p>\n
\u201cRubio has found support among Republican primary voters over 50, who support him by a six-point margin over Vance, 41% to 35%, while Vance leads the younger Republican vote under 50, 37% to 26%,\u201d Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said.<\/p>\n
The Democratic primary field is similarly muddled. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg narrowly leads at 18%, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s support has dropped to 16% from 25% last August.<\/p>\n
Other contenders include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (11%), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (10%), former Vice President Kamala Harris (10%) and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (9%). 19% of likely Democratic primary voters are undecided.<\/p>\n
Since last summer, support for Newsom has waned while support for Ocasio-Cortez, Shapiro and Beshear has surged. Backing for Buttigieg and Harris is largely flat over that time.<\/p>\n
The Emerson poll shows good news for Democrats heading into the midterm elections, with President Donald Trump\u2019s approval rating falling another point to 39%, while 55% of voters disapprove.<\/p>\n
On the generic Congressional ballot, Democrats continue to lead by nearly double digits, leading Republicans 50% to 41% with about five months to go before the November elections.<\/p>\n
However, a majority of voters believe both parties are on the wrong track.<\/p>\n
The economy continues to be voters\u2019 top concern, with 41% calling it the most important issue facing the U.S., followed by threats to democracy (19%), immigration (11%) and healthcare (9%).<\/p>\n
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