The most recent poll conducted by NBC News confirmed that the tycoon is still the favorite among conservative voters ahead of the primaries, just as an earlier NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey warned.

51% of national Republican primary voters pick the former president as their first choice in the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, followed by 22% who choose DeSantis, 7% who select former Vice President Mike Pence and 5% who want former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Trump’s 29-point lead over DeSantis in a multi-candidate field is an increase from April’s NBC News poll, when 46% preferred Trump as their first choice versus 31% who picked DeSantis. That survey was conducted soon after the former president was indicted in New York for his alleged role in a hush-money case.

And 64% of Republican primary voters believe that the multiple indictments and investigations Trump faces are politically motivated, and they say they must support him to stop his opponents from winning — although that’s down slightly from the 68% who said this in April after his first indictment in the New York case.

The NBC News poll also finds nearly half of Republican primary voters — 49% — say that Trump should continue as the party’s leader. These voters overwhelmingly pick Trump as their first choice on a primary ballot.

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