Donald Trump is seeing a bump in popularity among Republicans, according to latest polls, with one of the surveys showing the former US president gaining ground over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his putative main rival for a 2024 White House run.
Mr Trump announced in November that he was seeking a second term in office, a move met with dismay by several conservative leaders because the Republican Party has fared poorly in many key races since the former president's general election victory in 2016.
The latest Emerson College Polling national survey shows Mr Trump's backing at 55 per cent, compared to 25 per cent for Mr DeSantis. Nikki Haley, who last month announced her candidacy for 2024, is at 5 per cent, while former vice president Mike Pence was supported by 8 per cent.
While Mr Trump's share of support remained steady from January, the poll finds that Mr DeSantis slipped four points.
Another poll by Yahoo News/YouGov found Mr Trump's popularity growing, with him taking the lead by eight points in a hypothetical contest against Mr DeSantis for the Republican nomination. That represents a net swing in Mr Trump's favour of 12 points since the start of last month.
Mr DeSantis has yet to declare he is running for president but is widely expected to do so. He has recently been courting prospective voters in states that will hold the Republican Party's initial presidential primaries next year.
A third poll by Echelon Insights had Mr Trump at 46 per cent approval from Republican respondents, compared to 31 per cent for Mr DeSantis.
Whether Mr Trump can translate his popularity among the Republican base into an election-winning formula is an open question, and senior party members have been notably quiet when it comes to endorsing him.
Mr Trump's party lost control of the House of Representatives in 2018, the Senate and the White House in 2020, and fared worse than anticipated in midterms in November.
"Trump came out of the midterms looking like a loser," Clifford Young, president of US public affairs at Ipsos, told The National.
"His brand of candidate did not do well. But this has faded as we put more distance between now and the midterms."
Mr Young added that a lot will change between now and next year.
"There is a lot of noise in the polls, we are very far out from the primaries and people aren't paying attention yet."
The Emerson poll found that 71 per cent of Democratic respondents think President Joe Biden should run again in 2024.
Mr Biden, 80, has not declared his intention and many voters are concerned about his age, but first lady Jill Biden said her husband was all but sure to seek a second term.
US President Joe Biden in surprise visit to Kyiv - in pictures
Although Mr Biden's popularity has grown among Democrats, the Emerson poll puts him behind Mr Trump if the 2024 election were to be held today, with the former president garnering 46 per cent to Mr Biden's 42 per cent.
Mr Trump's resurgence in the polls in February came as several stories unfolded in the US and beyond, including the shooting down of what the US said was a Chinese spying balloon, the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a fireball train crash in East Palestine, Ohio, in which dangerous chemicals were spilt into the environment.
All of the stories have been heavily politicised, and Mr Trump made a visit to East Palestine that was well received by residents. Mr Biden and Mr DeSantis have not visited.
The former president took to Truth Social, his own social media platform, to tout the latest polls and repeat his debunked claims that he won the 2020 election against Mr Biden, who beat Mr Trump by some seven million votes.
"We must take back the White House in 2024," he wrote in block capitals.
Much like in 2015-16, the contest to secure the Republican Party's nomination is becoming a crowded field. Back then, Mr Trump was able to cut through all controversies and leave better-established rivals in the dust.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
A Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Brief scores:
Barcelona 3
Pique 38', Messi 51 (pen), Suarez 82'
Rayo Vallecano 1
De Tomas Gomez 24'
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Honeymoonish
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
