How big can Trump's lead get? by Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent September 15, 2023 04:40 PM
HOW BIG CAN TRUMP'S LEAD GET? If you thought former President Donald Trump's lead over the Republican field in national polls could not get any bigger — you thought wrong. The three most recent major polls, conducted in the last 10 days, show Trump with a lead of 47, 48, and 50 points, respectively. In the RealClearPolitics average of all polls, his lead is 43.9 points — higher than it has ever been.
One of the new polls is from Fox News, and it shows Trump with 60% support, with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in second place, at 13%, 47 points behind Trump. DeSantis is barely ahead of entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, at 11%. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is at 5%, and former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) are tied at 3%. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is last with 2%. (The three also-rans, Burgum, Elder, and Hutchinson, are at 0%.)
So just counting the candidates who register any support at all, it's a seven-candidate field. And for one candidate to hit 60% support in a seven-candidate field is remarkable. It's just not done. But it is a good illustration of Trump's special status as a former president in a field of never-been-presidents and never-will-be-presidents...