Although Former President Donald Trump seemed destined to become the early front-runner in the 2024 GOP primary race since he first announced his candidacy, there is evidence that his recent legal issues have only strengthened his position among Republican voters.
He was indicted in April on charges related to alleged hush money payments made during his 2020 campaign. Last month, he was formally charged with criminal counts related to allegations that he improperly handled classified documents.
Subsequent polling indicates that he has emerged from these challenges with a commanding lead over the rest of the crowded field of Republican contenders. In fact, his nearest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, believes that Trump’s campaign has directly benefited from the indictments.
2024 National Republican Primary
• Trump — 53% (+39)
• DeSantis — 14%
• Ramaswamy — 7%
• Pence — 7%
• Haley — 3%
• Scott — 3%
• Christie — 2%
• Hutchinson — 1%
• Burgum — 0%TIPP (A-) | 486 LV | July 5-7https://t.co/v0SMLBu2de
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) July 17, 2023
Referencing the first indictment, initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, he said that it “elevated” Trump’s status among GOP voters.
“I think a lot of people, including me, believe that it was a miscarriage of justice,” DeSantis said.
He has publicly indicated that he would consider pardoning Trump if elected president, though he has not gone as far as some other White House hopefuls in making such a promise.
“On day one, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases [of] people who are victims of weaponization or political targeting, and we will be aggressive at issuing pardons,” DeSantis said during an interview in May.
Asked directly whether that would include Trump, he replied: “I would say any example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big.”
In his most recent comments on the matter, DeSantis concluded that “there was a lot of sympathy” among Americans regarding Trump’s indictments.
Furthermore, he indicated that the situation has been “dominating the media coverage,” further bolstering Trump’s position as the early GOP favorite.
Trump himself has frequently referenced his indictments in campaign speeches, including at last month’s Faith and Freedom Coalition event.
“Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxists, communists, and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage,” he declared. “I’m being indicted for you, and I believe the ‘you’ is more than 200 million people that love our country.”
