Trump edges out DeSantis in new GOP presidential poll

Former President Donald Trump edged out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by a narrow 4% margin in a new national poll of Republican primary voters.

Trump won the support of 40% of those surveyed compared to 36% for DeSantis in the CNN poll, a narrower margin than other recent polls had shown.

Ex-UN ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence both scored 6%. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lag further behind.

The poll featured a familiar chasm between college-educated and non-college-educated Republicans, with Trump scoring a wide lead among those without a degree and those who make less than $50,000 a year.

Trump, who declared his reelection bid last November, has been lashing out regularly at DeSantis, whom he mocks as “Ron DeSanctimonious.”

DeSantis has avoided criticizing Trump by name ahead of his planned campaign launch expected later in the spring.

Both men journeyed to Davenport, Iowa, within a couple of days of one another in the past week in a sure sign that they see one another their main rivals in the upcoming primary dog fight.

DeSantis boasted that he has transformed Florida into a GOP stronghold and the place where progressive “woke goes to die.”

Trump, who drew a noticeably bigger and more enthusiastic crowd in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, countered by harshly attacking DeSantis as a disloyal Republican in name only with strong ties to the establishment wing of the party.

Trump remains the most popular and powerful leader in the Republican Party as he heads into his third straight presidential race, even though many voters say they are hungry for a fresher face.