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During a recent Substack Live appearance, Buttigieg played coy about his presidential ambitions. “Any kind of decision process there is a long way off,” he said. “There are times I follow that process and decided to run, and there are times I followed that process and decided not to run — and the process can lead you to surprising places.”
It’s a vague answer from a man who’s clearly watching the polls and calculating his next move.
Elsewhere in the crowded Democratic field, the numbers aren’t exactly inspiring. Senator Cory Booker sits at 10.4%, still struggling to connect with voters after years of overpromising and underdelivering. California Governor Gavin Newsom trails at 7.1%, despite nonstop media buzz. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is sitting at 4.8%, and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer is at a paltry 3.7%.
On the Republican side, it’s a very different picture. The GOP base is far more united behind one name: Vice President J.D. Vance.
According to the latest ASME poll, Vance commands the confidence of 37.3% of likely Republican voters. It’s a strong lead, placing him well ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who trails at 18.7%.
Donald Trump Jr. is holding steady at 8.8%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be slipping, managing just 7%. About 16% of respondents said they preferred “none of the above,” leaving the door open for potential surprise entries—or renewed support for a returning figure.
While Democrats appear fractured and uncertain, Republicans seem to be aligning behind new leadership, with Vance at the helm. His rise reflects a conservative base that is tired of political games and looking for real fighters in Washington.
Nate Silver, a prominent election forecaster, has given AtlasIntel high marks, calling it “top-rated” and noting its impressive track record in 2024. That’s more reason to believe the Democratic establishment is in for a rude awakening if it continues to ignore what the base is really asking for.
Harris may still be clinging to her title, but as far as the American people—and even her own party—are concerned, the writing is already on the wall.
