Former President Donald Trump holds a wide lead over Republican Ron DeSantis in Iowa, besting his closest rival by 23 percentage points.

The data come less than five months before the Iowa caucuses, on the eve of the first Republican presidential debate.

The Florida governor continues to be Trump’s closest competitor, even following weeks where he shed campaign staff and has seen many of his political activities backed by an outside super PAC that is supporting him.

Trump leads DeSantis 41-19 in the new Des Moines Register poll, which was taken August 13 to 17. That includes the period of Trump’s fourth indictment, this time by a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury. He is charged with conspiracy, false statements, and other charges linked to his 2020 election overturn in the state.

With Trump out of the debate, DeSantis is being advised to attack lower performing candidates including entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is down at 4 per cent in the Iowa poll…. (