US secretary of state's presidential bid support surges

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rises in a new survey for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, while Vice President JD Vance loses his advantage.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are currently considered leading Republican contenders for the 2028 White House race, as President Donald Trump concludes his second term.

According to a survey published on 28/5 by Emerson College Polling, a non-partisan public opinion research center at Emerson College, 36% of Republican voters supported Vance, while Secretary of State Rubio closely followed with 35%.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a White House press conference on 5/5. *AP*

Rubio's support increased by 15 percentage points compared to the February survey, indicating a significant jump. During the same period, Vance's preference as a top candidate dropped by 16 percentage points.

Emerson College Polling is a leading polling organization in the US, frequently cited by major media outlets in national and state election surveys.

According to USA Today, these results indicate that the race to succeed President Trump as the Republican presidential nominee could be highly competitive.

Following Vance and Rubio are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, each chosen by 5% of Republican voters. 15% of survey participants reported being undecided.

Vice President JD Vance (left) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. *AP, Reuters*

The survey was conducted on 24-25/5 among 432 likely Republican primary voters nationwide. The margin of error is 4,7 percentage points.

Vance and Rubio have not yet declared their intention to run for president. However, both have recently made frequent appearances at White House press briefings, filling in for spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave.

Secretary of State Rubio's support rose as his role in the Trump administration became more prominent, following US military actions in Venezuela and Iran. Meanwhile, Vice President Vance has recently focused on promoting the administration's efforts to address fraud in federal social welfare programs.

Trump previously mentioned both Rubio and Vance as potential successors to lead the MAGA movement, but he has not yet endorsed either. The US president also publicly hinted at the possibility of running for a third term in 2028, despite constitutional prohibitions.

A separate Emerson survey shows Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary, leading the Democratic field with 18%. He is followed by California Governor Gavin Newsom with 16%, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez with 11%, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro with 10%, and former Vice President Kamala Harris with 10%.

The Democratic survey was also conducted during the same period, involving 432 voters, with a margin of error of 4,7 percentage points.

Emerson's survey also revealed Trump's current approval rating at 39%, while 55% of Americans disapproved of his handling of the country.