(Daily Mail) Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy won the first Republican 2024 debate on Wednesday evening, according to an exclusive poll for DailyMail.com, beating out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by the narrowest of margins.
He put up a combative performance, trading blows with opponents such as former Vice President Mike Pence who seemed intent on cutting him down to size.
It made him the focal point for much of the debate.
Former Vice President Mike Pence came third, with 13 percent, followed by Sen. Tim Scott on eight percent, and former South Carolina Nikki Haley on seven percent.
J.L. Partners conducted an online poll to reach 504 registered Republicans who watched the Wednesday’s debate. The results come with a margin of error of 4.4 percent
A DailyMail.com poll found that Vivek Ramaswamy (right) narrowly edged out Ron DeSantis as the top performer in the first Republican poll on Wednesday evening
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scored four percent, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum took three percent (and appeared on stage despite tearing his Achilles tendon), and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson took two percent.
James Johnson, of J.L. Partners who carried out the poll, said three candidates could be satisfied with their night’s work.
‘First and foremost, Vivek Ramaswamy, who has inserted himself onto the national stage and narrowly won the debate with Republican voters,’ he said.
‘Second, Ron DeSantis who nearly topped the poll and has very much kept his campaign alive and defied write-offs about his debate performance.
‘Third, Mike Pence, who voters put in third place and who may now be asserting himself as the leading anti-Trump candidate in the race.’
J.L. Partners conducted an online poll to reach 504 registered Republicans who watched the debate. The results come with a margin of error of 4.4 percent.
When they included the absent Donald Trump in questions, Ramaswamy still won. Some 22 percent of respondents said he was the ‘real winner,’ compared with 20 percent who plumped for Trump.
‘Just getting warmed up,’ said Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for Ramaswamy.
The result reflects how Ramaswamy’s outsider message has made him the surprise package of the race so far. His numbers have surged in national polls to the point where some surveys put him in second place ahead of DeSantis.
Ramaswamy still came out just on top when Donald Trump was added into the mix. He managed to dominate headlines even by staying away from the debate
Eight candidates took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as they battle it out for the Republican 2024 nomination. Former President Donald Trump stayed away
Trump instead sat for an interview with Tucker Carlson at his Bedminster golf course earlier this week. It was broadcast on Wednesday evening
Wednesday was also billed as a make-or-break moment for DeSantis, a chance to reboot his campaign after weeks of dipping poll numbers and negative headlines.
The results suggest he did not make any mistakes but has yet to cement his position as the candidate most likely to overtake frontrunner Donald Trump.
His campaign manager Jame Uthmeier said DeSantis had managed to stay above the fray of squabbling rivals.
‘While other candidates attacked each other, Governor DeSantis stayed focused on the American people and fighting for their future with a clear vision to fix our economy, secure the border, empower parents, back law enforcement, and stand up to the leftist elites and the DC establishment,’ he said.
He may have risen above the fray, but at times that meant he was relegated to onlooker while Ramaswamy was in the thick of things.
‘The real choice we face in this primary is this: Do you want a Super PAC puppet?’ asked Ramaswamy, as he took on his opponents. ‘Or do you want a patriot who speaks the truth? Do you want incremental reform, which is what you’re hearing about, or do you want revolution?’
At times DeSantis ended up an onlooker as the two candidates either side of him traded blows
