Indian-origin Vivek Ramaswamy rises in Republican race, now tied at 2nd spot

In an interesting development in the US presidential race, Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy is surging ahead.

As one of the frontrunners in the Republican field, and is now tied with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the second place in a new poll.

An Emerson College survey showed DeSantis and Ramaswamy tied at 10 per cent each, trailing former President Donald Trump, who leads with 56 per cent, The Hill reported.

While DeSantis witnessed a huge fall as he currently stands at 10 per cent according to Emerson College Polling, Ramaswamy has risen to second spot from a mere 2 per cent previously. DeSantis had registered 21 per cent in June.

According to a report by The Hill, pollsters also found somewhat more “shaky support” among DeSantis supporters than among those for Ramaswamy.

Almost half of Ramaswamy backers said they would definitely vote for him, while only a third of DeSantis supporters said the same.

Meanwhile, more than 80 per cent of Trump supporters said they will definitely vote for the former president.

The poll’s release comes as a leaked memo from the super PAC supporting DeSantis’ candidacy, ‘Never Back Down’, urged DeSantis to “take a sledgehammer” to Ramaswamy, The Hill reported.

Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball said in a release that Ramaswamy has made improvements in voters with postgraduate degrees, taking 17 per cent of that group, and with younger voters, winning 16 per cent of those younger than 35, The Hill reported.

Meanwhile, DeSantis dropped in his support among postgraduate voters from 38 per cent in June to 14 percent now and only had 15 per cent of those under 35, as per The Hill.

DeSantis, Ramaswamy and several other GOP presidential candidates will have their clearest opportunity yet to stand out on a national stage at the first Republican primary debate next week, especially with Trump seemingly planning to skip it.