Trump surges in polls, fundraises millions ahead of arraignment

Trump is expected to leave Trump Tower for the downtown courthouse in Manhattan at 10:30 am on Tuesday morning, passing protesters who have gathered outside his New York City residence. Inside the courthouse, journalists from around the world have queued overnight to secure their seats in the courtroom.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is pursuing the first indictment against any former US president. Republicans view the indictment as a biased attempt to block Trump's return to office in the coming 2024 race, it has bolstered support with new polls showing him leading Ron DeSantis in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, according to the Daily Mail. DeSantis has yet to officially announce that he will run.

According to a new poll from the Boston Herald/Opinion Diagnostics of 475 likely Massachusetts Republican primary voters, 45 percent of respondents supported Trump, compared to 21 percent who said they would vote for DeSantis in the Republican primary.

A poll from Fox News from last week revealed that Trump expanded his lead against DeSantis in the 2024 presidential race.

The survey, released on Wednesday, found that Trump has doubled his lead over DeSantis since February. Among the 15 announced and potential candidates for the 2024 GOP nomination, 54 percent of Americans said they would vote for Trump while 24 percent said they would vote for DeSantis. In February, this was at 43 and 28 percent, respectively.

Trump's attorneys say he will address supporters outside the courthouse before and after the arraignment, and the Daily Mail reports that his team says news of the indictment has helped him raise a record $8 million in campaign donations.

The full contents of the indictment remain unknown. Leaks suggest it includes 34 felony counts. Trump is not expected to pose for a mugshot or be handcuffed, although his fingerprints will be taken.