52% of Republicans won't vote for Trump if imprisoned: Poll

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
4 Aug 2023 19:18

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that about half of US Republicans could spurn Trump if he is convicted.

Voters line up as the doors open to the Election Center for absentee early voting for the general election in Sterling Heights, Mich, in October 2020. A Michigan attorney involved in several efforts to overturn those elections in support of Trump was charged this August 3, 2023. (AP)

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday shows that 52% of Republicans say they would not vote for former President Trump if he were imprisoned on election day and almost 50% would do the same if he were convicted of a felony.

This matters because although Trump remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nominee in 2024, the survey indicates that his legal troubles may still hurt his prospects of winning the general election.

If Trump will be found guilty on January 6 investigation-related allegations, he could spend many years behind bars.

Prior to this, in June, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts in a case involving the retention of secret material and obstructing the legal system.

He pleaded not guilty too, in New York, on accusations of fabricating company papers to hide an alleged relationship with adult performer Stormy Daniels.

Georgia is considering charging him with a fourth count of attempting to rig the 2020 election. In each of the four situations, he claims innocence.

Read: Expected to appear in court, Trump slams 'weaponization' of justice

On the one hand, and as per a New York Times/Siena College poll, Trump and Biden are tied at 43% in a hypothetical general election battle, despite the fact that 51% of people believe Trump has committed "serious federal crimes."

According to a Reuters poll, 66% of Republicans do not find it "believable" that Trump committed crimes to tamper with the results of the 2020 election, while 75% of Republicans believe he is the target of "politically motivated" prosecutions.

These results imply that many of the GOP bases buy into Trump's assertions that he is the victim of a "witch hunt".

On the other hand, the Reuters poll indicates that many Republicans would be hesitant to support a convicted felon in the upcoming election.

Republicans were split, with 35% saying they would support Trump if he were found guilty of a felony by a jury and 45% saying they would not.

If he were in jail at the time of the election, 52% indicated they wouldn't vote for him, while 28% said they would.

It is worth noting that Trump has a 47%-13% advantage against Ron DeSantis in the poll.