DeSantis leads Trump in Iowa by eight points in head-to-head matchup

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads Donald Trump in a new survey out of Iowa, following a week where he ventured some of his harshest attacks on the former president and Trump hurled back a series of insults.

The Iowa poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for Axios, centers on a state that is emerging as a key political battleground for forces in the Republican Party hoping to turn back Trump.

DeSantis leads Trump by eight points, 45 to 37, in a head-to-head matchup, according to the poll.

The news comes after Trump was rallying his base once again with a rally in Waco, where he once again attacked Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg amid signs he could be on the verge of being indicted on matters related to a 'hush' agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump told reporters DeSantis would be working in a cigar store if it weren't for his endorsement for governor.

DeSantis does not perform as well in a crowded primary, which might come closer to approximating reality a year from now. When former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are included, Trump and DeSantis are tied in Iowa.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads former President Donald Trump in a new poll out of Iowa 

DeSantis leads Trump head-to-head in Iowa, although they tie when other announced candidates are included. The two rivals are tied in fist primary state New Hampshire

Trump benefitted from a free-for-all in the 2016 Republican primary, and could do so again in a large field that divides his supports.

DeSantis in an interview last week said he didn't have anything to do with hush payments to a porn star – in a statement Trump's camp took as an attack. Trump responded with another of his own attacks on 'Ron DeSanctimonious.' 

Trump and DeSantis were tied in New Hampshire in a poll by the same firm, with each at 39 percent. 

Former President Donald Trump has been expanding his lead over DeSantis nationally, and rallied with his base in Waco, Texas over the weekend

Trump kept up his attacks on DeSantis en route to Texas, saying he would be running a cigar store if it weren't for his endorsement

DeSantis bested Trump on favorability ratings, with an 81-11 rating in Iowa compared to Trump's 74-24 among Republican voters. In New Hampshire, DeSantis was at 77-5, while Trump's rating was 69-29.

The early state surveys come as Trump has expanded his lead over DeSantis in national surveys. 

He has become a favorite of a range of Republicans who are seeking an alternative to Trump, but some of his national policy views are still being known – such as his recent comment calling Russia's war on Ukraine a 'territorial dispute,' in a comment he tried to walk back. 

Iowa always enjoys outsized influence in the winnowing process as the first state to hold a caucus, with the Republican caucuses set for the start of 2024. If Trump, as the former Republican president, were to suffer a defeat there, it could strike a blow to his aura as the clear frontrunner in the field. Trump, who unlike DeSantis has announced his bid, visited Davenport earlier this month.

Trump was narrowly defeated by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz there in 2016 (Trump accused him of 'fraud,' at the time when his own seriousness as a candidate was still being assessed. A defeat as an incumbent could have a more pronounced impact. 

New Hampshire is set to hold its first-in-the-nation primary in January 2024. Trump easily defeated former GOP Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld there in 2020. As a small state, it has traditionally provided upstart candidates with a stage to try to mount a challenge, and a less-than-stellar performance there could wound Trump.