Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated on Monday that he does not believe former President Donald Trump can defeat President Joe Biden in a general election. However, recent national polls in the Republican primary race indicate that many Republican voters disagree with DeSantis’ assessment.

Trump Dominates Republican Field in Recent Poll

According to a new poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, Trump is leading the Republican primary race with 54% support, while DeSantis trails far behind with only 17%. None of the other GOP candidates received more than 3% support in the survey. The poll, conducted from July 23 to July 27, has a margin of error of 3.96 percentage points.

Republican Voters See Trump as More Electable Against Biden

The poll also revealed that likely Republican primary voters consider Trump to be more electable against Biden compared to DeSantis. When asked whether the phrase “Able to beat Joe Biden” better described Trump or DeSantis, 58% of respondents chose Trump, while only 28% chose the governor.

DeSantis Stands by His Opinion

Despite the poll results, Governor DeSantis reiterated his belief in a Fox News interview that he, not Trump, is the better choice to take on President Biden in a general election. When questioned by Fox’s Bret Baier about Trump’s chances of winning against Biden, DeSantis responded, “I don’t think so because I think that there are too many voters who just aren’t going to vote for him going forward.”

DeSantis Questions Trump’s Ability to Assemble Competent Team

In the same interview, DeSantis argued that Trump would face challenges in finding capable individuals to work for him and effectively implement his policies. He emphasized the importance of discipline, focus, and having a supportive team to achieve goals. DeSantis expressed doubt that the former president could attract the necessary personnel to accomplish his objectives.

Concerns Surrounding DeSantis’ Campaign

Recent reports have indicated that DeSantis’ campaign has faced difficulties, including the firing of more than 40% of its original staff. The campaign has struggled to close the gap with Trump and has faced concerns regarding its fundraising operation. Some top donors have started exploring alternative candidates in the Republican primary.