Poll: Vivek Ramaswamy to Second Place, Now Tied With DeSantis

Call this one an embarrassment for Ron DeSantis or an amazing success for Vivek Ramaswamy. Either way, it’s a mini shakeup of the Republican field if these new poll numbers from Kaplan Strategies are to be believed.

Why has Ramaswamy found a way to move the needle in his favor while other candidates seem to be stalling?

There are a few reasons, but let’s look at the poll numbers first to see just how much of a seismic shift this would be if other pollsters corroborate it:

Vivek Ramaswamy, biotech investor, has made significant strides in his political journey, tying with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the latest national GOP poll. Both candidates claimed the support of 12 percent of likely GOP voters, coming second to President Donald Trump, who maintains a dominant 48 percent lead.

Doug Kaplan, founder of Kaplan Strategies, the firm that conducted the poll, highlights the rising popularity of Ramaswamy in the face of nine competitors. “Ramaswamy outperformed six other hopefuls by more than double, marking a significant surprise in this poll,” Kaplan comments.

While DeSantis remains a top-tier candidate amongst non-Trump choices, he now shares this status with Ramaswamy. The reactions of these camps in the face of this new dynamic are anticipated with interest.

Despite DeSantis’ favorable rating of 59 percent amongst GOP voters, Kaplan suggests that Ramaswamy may have the potential for a higher ceiling, as he is less well-known amongst Republican voters, with a 27 percent Uncertain rate.

Here’s a clearer readout from Interactive Polls via Twitter (or X, whatever it’s called now):

Kaplan Strategies | July 17-18
800 LV | MoE: ±3.5%

• Trump — 48% (+36)
• Ramaswamy — 12%
• DeSantis — 12%
• Christie — 5%
• Scott — 5%
• Pence — 4%
• Haley — 3%
• Hutchinson — 1%
• Undecided — 10%

Part of the answer has to do with Ramaswamy’s intense media appearances. The man will appear anywhere with anyone and take on any question or issue head-on. He doesn’t shy away from left-leaning news outlets like CNN or NBC. Instead, he takes his message into the belly of the beast unashamedly.

Perhaps the other reason, which is going largely unmentioned, is that Ramaswamy has been basically pro-Trump for the duration of this campaign. That was not always the case, as evidenced by some of his past statements in which he bludgeoned Trump in 2021 over the January 6 protest.

However, as of this year, Ramaswamy has been running at full MAGA, according to NBC News:

Ramaswamy, who says he has qualified for the first presidential debate, has been quick to pledge to pardon Trump if elected, released a list of potential picks for the Supreme Court, and has outlined plans to shut down the FBI and Education Department. He’s gone viral for a recent interaction with an abortion-rights protester at one of his events and unveiled an eyebrow-raising fundraising strategy that will give donors 10% of the total amount of cash they raise for him.

Perhaps it’s the convincing nature of his arguments or the truly elegant way in which he delivers them that matters to voters. He’s not a stuffy Mike Pence or a brittle Ron DeSantis, he’s like another breath of fresh air the way Trump has been since riding down the escalator in 2015.

In short, Ramaswamy is giving Trump some backing in the primary while the rest of the field seeks to tear him down. For this reason, Ramaswamy has been elevating his profile thanks to his ability to hold an audience’s attention and deliver an inspiring MAGA-laced message.

From his takedown of big pharma and Covid policies to his ardent defense of pro-life policies, Ramaswamy spares nothing along the way.

Earlier in July, Ramswamy was confronted by a protestor, of sorts, over abortion during an event where he was speaking in Iowa. Most candidates would not handle a situation this smoothly or display this level of leadership:

I’m in Iowa right now with Vivek Ramaswamy who was just interrupted by a single mother who believes it’s her body and her choice. Watch and hear his response. pic.twitter.com/8Tg4vVFPiz

— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) July 11, 2023

It’s for this reason, as his name becomes more widely known among potential GOP primary voters, that his poll numbers have begun to climb.