New Harvard Poll: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Most Favorable Politician, Pelosi and McConnell Tied For Last

New Poll Puts FL Gov. DeSantis On Top Of List Of U.S. Politicians For Net Favorability
YouTube Screen Shot-WPTV News-FL 10/13/22

If you haven’t been following Harvard’s polling this year, you’re missing out. Some of the results have been very interesting for people with the political bug.

For instance: the latest Harvard CAPS/Harris poll puts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the top of the heap with the highest net approval rating of all the major American politicians those surveyed were asked about.

The poll was conducted on October 12-13, and asked respondents their opinion of major politicians.

In addition to DeSantis, who is at a net approval of 6 points with 39% approval and 33% disapproval, former Vice President Mike Pence may have been one of the surprises with a net approval of 4 points, 44% favorable and 40% unfavorable. 

At the bottom of the list: Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, who both scored -22 unfavorable ratings.

As with nearly all things, the numbers of former President Trump are likely the most fascinating; while he has a zero net approval, he had the highest number of respondents giving him a favorable rating at 47%. He also had the highest number of respondents giving him a “very favorable” rating, at 28%.

President Joe Biden came in at -8, with 43% approval, 51% disapproval.

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DeSantis And Hurricane Relief

Since his election in 2018, Ron DeSantis has been a consistently popular Governor. In September, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll in Florida showed in a hypothetical primary result of DeSantis over former President Donald Trump by 48% to 40%.

During this current election cycle, DeSantis has raised more money than any other governor running for reelection. So far, he has raised $166,578,634. An astonishing number, but also an expensive media market.

DeSantis may have also been the beneficiary of timing. Florida was slammed by Hurricane Ian on September 28, and the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll was conducted on October 12-13, right at the height of hurricane relief efforts.

Even President Joe Biden, perhaps reluctantly, remarked during a visit to the hurricane-ravaged portions of the Sunshine State that “What the governor’s done is pretty remarkable. I think he’s done a good job.”

DeSantis’ responded to Biden’s remarks saying, “You know, I’m happy to brief the president if he’s interested in hearing what we’re doing in Florida, you know, my view on all this is like you got people’s lives at stake, you got their property at stake, and we don’t have time for pettiness. We got to work together to make sure we’re doing the best job for them.”

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2022 FL Gov. Race And An Early Snapshot Of 2024

While most Americans are only recently beginning to pay attention to the 2022 midterm election, as stated above, attention will quickly turn to 2024. Though Donald Trump remains wildly popular, and most believe that he will make another run for the White House in 2024, Ron DeSantis is also seen by many in the GOP to be the heir apparent to Trump, even possibly as early as 2024 – should Trump not run.

The same Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows in a hypothetical primary Trump running away with the nomination at 55%, and DeSantis with 17% of GOP voters. But take Trump out of the running, and DeSantis is far ahead of the pack with 40% of the vote and former Vice President Mike Pence second with 18%.

Because of gutsy moves like sending two planeloads of illegal immigrants to the liberal enclave of Martha’s Vineyard in September, in the Florida Governor’s race, according to Real Clear Politics, Ron DeSantis has a sold 7.8 point lead over his opponent Democrat and former Gov. Charlie Crist.  

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