Image Credit: Gotham via Getty Images 
Despite being the first ever president to face criminal charges, Donald Trump is still surging in popularity, with a new poll showing him extending his lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Protests are expected outside the Manhattan courthouse as Trump enters later today over a legally dubious indictment related to alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
But the entire spectacle, which many political observers think will only serve to help Trump in the long run, is only boosting his popularity amongst Republican voters.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that 48 per cent of Republicans want Trump to be their party’s nominee, an increase of four per cent since last month before he was indicted.
REUTERS/IPSOS POLL: Donald Trump holds 29-POINT lead over Ron DeSantis
March 20:
• Trump — 44% (+14)
• DeSantis — 30%APRIL 3:
• Trump — 48% (+29)
• DeSantis — 19%• Other likely rivals polled in the single digits. (Mar 31-Apr 3, n=706)https://t.co/SGXiQZab66 pic.twitter.com/xqgm7ewfn0
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) April 4, 2023
In comparison, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has seen his support shrink from 30 per cent down to 19 per cent. All of Trump’s other potential rivals are polling in the single digits.
The survey of 706 U.S. adults was conducted a few days after a New York grand jury voted to indict the former president.
The poll also found that a narrow majority of Americans think the charges against Trump are “politically motivated.”
The indictment has once again propelled Trump into a position where he thrives the most – being the center of attention.
As the Telegraph notes, “There has been a deafening silence from Democrat leaders who have pursued Donald Trump and accused him of wrongdoing for years” and “even many opponents of Mr Trump felt charging him may have been a step too far for America.”
While leftists are expected to react with unbridled glee at any public release of Trump’s mugshot photo, it could end up being the most effectively campaign tool he could have wished for.
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