Trump's lead widens over DeSantis in 2024 primary after FBI raid: poll

Poll also shows 39% said raid conducted to "damage" Trump's political career

Published: August 15, 2022 10:17am

Updated: August 15, 2022 11:26am

Former President Trump's lead has grown by 12 points over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical 2024 Republican presidential primary, according to a survey conducted after the FBI raided the Trump's Florida residence.

If the primary were held today, 58% of registered voters, according to the Morning Consult/Politico survey published Friday.

The joint survey showed last month that 54% of voters said they would support the former president.

In the new survey, DeSantis comes in second to Trump in the possible primary – with 16% of voters saying they would support him, down from 21% last month.

Trump's now 42-point lead follows the FBI raiding Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate Aug. 8, in search of documents from his administration.

The survey was conducted Aug. 10 among 2,004 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

The poll also shows that 49% of those surveyed said the raid was executed because there was evidence Trump "committed a crime," compared to 39% who said the reason was to "damage his career."