IOWA, UNITED STATES: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign is facing a significant decline marked by polling setbacks, internal turmoil, strategy shifts, and financial challenges.
At the beginning of the year, DeSantis appeared to be on a promising trajectory toward securing the Republican nomination.
He was positioned as a political fighter akin to Donald Trump, showcasing a record of conservative accomplishments in Florida and contrasting himself with the chaotic nature of the Trump era.
However, DeSantis' initial plans have encountered the reality of a resurgent Trump and a competitive Republican field.
As a result, the Florida governor is grappling to regain momentum after his campaign recently underwent its third major overhaul in just one month.
Ron DeSantis' poll numbers for the presidential election
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has surged ahead of Ron DeSantis. This change is particularly significant in New Hampshire, a state that holds a crucial "first in the nation" primary following the Iowa caucuses, per Newsweek.
In the survey involving 498 Republican primary voters conducted from August 9 to 11, Christie secured a marginal lead over DeSantis by just one percentage point.
The poll results showed that 9 percent of voters expressed their intention to support Christie, who has prominently centered his campaign around criticizing Trump.
On the other hand, 8 percent of voters indicated their support for DeSantis.
This shift in New Hampshire's preference is noteworthy due to the state's potential to offer vital media coverage and fundraising opportunities to candidates ahead of other early-voting states.
What do netizens have to say about the presidential poll numbers?
People have flocked to Twitter to discuss the recent poll results reflecting the changing numbers for Ron DeSantis.
The latest survey has prompted a flurry of conversations among users, as the dynamics of the Republican primary race seem to be shifting.
One user wrote, "I’m looking at the latest poll numbers for Ron DeSantis, and guys…? I think Woke won the War." Another mocked DeSantis, saying, "Bye bye Commander Pudding Fingers."
A third commented, "Reminds me of that song: I fought the woke and the woke won," while a fourth added, "Iowa. Where Florida politician’s campaigns go to die."
A Twitter user commented, suggesting that DeSantis' chances might be over. "Messing with his state's largest private employer, which also happens to be a wildly popular theme park and entertainment corporation, was probably not the best idea. It seems that the more DeSantis puts himself under public scrutiny, the less popular he becomes. Dude is done."
Someone else added, "He never had a chance. He was after the MAGA crowd and they are still backing 45. In their mind he betrayed the former guy, so all the woke attacks, and book banning and bible verses couldn’t save him from the perceived betrayal."