Florida Gov. DeSantis Says “If Trump Loses, He Will Say It’s Stolen, No Matter What”

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed rival Donald Trump on Friday, claiming that Trump would try to “de-legitimize the results” if he lost in an early nominating state like Iowa or New Hampshire next month.

“If Trump loses, he will say it’s stolen no matter what, absolutely,” DeSantis said at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire.

Fox News Digital shared a video from the event on social media.

Read: Trump Dominates In Iowa, Florida Gov. DeSantis And Former South Carolina Gov. Haley Vie For 2nd

DeSantis noted at the New Hampshire event on Friday that Trump also cried fraud when he lost the 2016 Iowa caucuses to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and will likely do so again if he loses this time. “I think that’s to be expected, but I don’t think people are going to buy it,” he was quoted as saying.

In a recent poll conducted by the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom, Donald Trump has solidified his position as the clear front-runner in the state, with his support surpassing 50%.

However, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are still in the running, although they have yet to break away as the clear second choice.

According to the Des Moines Register poll, 51% of likely Republican caucusgoers in Iowa have chosen Trump as their first choice for president, a significant increase from the 43% he received in the previous poll conducted in October.

This surge in support has only solidified Trump’s position as the front-runner in the state. In contrast, DeSantis has gained a modest increase of 3 percentage points, putting him in second place with 19% support, while Haley remains stagnant at 16%.

Read: Backer Of Florida Gov. DeSantis In Iowa Handwaves Away Trump’s Polling Advantage

Other candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, and Ryan Binkley, trail far behind with single-digit support.

Despite facing 91 felony charges across four criminal cases, Trump’s supporters in Iowa remain confident in his ability to defeat President Biden in a hypothetical rematch.

The poll reveals that 73% of likely Republican caucusgoers believe Trump can win against Biden, regardless of his legal challenges, marking an eight percentage point increase since October.

Only 24% of respondents think Trump’s legal battles will make it nearly impossible for him to secure victory, down from 32% in the previous poll. Interestingly, there is a divide between DeSantis and Haley supporters on this issue, with a majority of DeSantis supporters (59%) believing in Trump’s chances, while a majority of Haley supporters (65%) consider it nearly impossible for Trump to win given his legal challenges.

When it comes to ideological alignment, nearly three-quarters of likely caucusgoers in Iowa perceive Trump as the “Goldilocks” candidate, with 71% believing that his views strike the right balance between conservatism and moderation.

DeSantis and Haley also fare well in this regard, with 60% and 55% of respondents, respectively, perceiving their views as “about right.”

However, a plurality of respondents find Christie to be too moderate, while Ramaswamy receives mixed reviews.

One of the most striking findings of the Iowa poll is Trump’s overwhelming support across various demographic groups. He leads among every age group, self-identified Republicans, and independent caucusgoers.

Trump’s support extends to those with and without a college degree, across all income brackets, and among evangelicals. Even among his weakest demographic groups, such as independents, he still maintains a considerable lead. DeSantis and Haley, while lagging behind Trump, also enjoy support from specific segments of the electorate.

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