Republican Race Heats Up as DeSantis and Llamaswami Compete for Second Spot

Ron DeSantis Loses Ground in Polls, Faces Strong Challenge from Businessman Vivek Llamaswami

In a rapidly shifting landscape within the Republican Party's primary race, Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor and a leading contender in the GOP presidential race, is facing a fierce challenge from businessman Vivek Llamaswami for the second spot.

According to a recent survey conducted by Emerson College from August 16 to 18 among a thousand registered voters, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has faced four indictments, continues to dominate the field with a commanding 56% approval rate among Republican candidates. In a surprising turn, DeSantis' once strong standing has plummeted to 10%, putting him on equal footing with entrepreneur Vivek Llamaswami.

DeSantis, who held a 21% approval rate in a similar poll conducted just two months prior, has experienced a significant decline in support.

Over the same period, Llamaswami has seen a 2% increase in his approval rating.

In a survey by Fox News conducted from August 11 to 14, Trump retained his lead with 56% support, while DeSantis and Llamaswami stood at 16% and 11% approval rates, respectively, creating a tight contest for the second position.

With the first debate among Republican candidates scheduled for August 23rd, the DeSantis campaign is in alert mode, and clear signs of caution are apparent in response to Llamaswami's rising popularity.

Reports suggest that DeSantis' strategy for the upcoming debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin involves strongly endorsing former President Trump and attacking Llamaswami, in an effort to deal a blow to his rival's prospects. However, DeSantis publicly denied any association with such a strategy, asserting that he had not read the internal documents detailing these plans.

Amidst these developments, other Republican contenders have pressured former President Trump, who declined participation in the initial candidate debate, to reconsider. Trump has reportedly opted to engage in an interview with ousted Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson instead of attending the debate, which is hosted by Fox News, a conservative media outlet.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, Trump's running mate during his presidency and now a fellow contender, expressed hope that Trump would eventually participate in the debates, stating that his presence is essential until the end of the process.

However, criticisms have arisen suggesting that Trump is not qualified to be a candidate. As per Arkansas' former Governor Asa Hutchinson, "Trump violated the Constitution in relation to his actions during the January 6th incident and is ineligible to run. Separate indictments related to Trump's involvement in the Capitol breach must follow, leading to his disqualification as a presidential candidate."

Senator Bill Cassidy, a member of the Republican Party, believes that if Trump were to step down as a candidate, "It's his decision, but judging by the current public sentiment, he would likely lose to Joe Biden in the election."