Former President Donald Trump drew 100,000 supporters to a rally last weekend in deep blue New Jersey, and now, according to the most recent data, it looks like he has a shot at winning another traditionally Democratic state.
For months, Trump has signaled his plan for a bold expansion of the electoral map in the lead-up to the presidential election, targeting traditionally Democratic states like New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Mexico, and Minnesota. Trump is set to be the main speaker at the Minnesota Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan dinner on Friday. This event occurs as Trump seems to be gaining ground on President Joe Biden in the polls in the typically Democratic state.
The KSTP/Survey USA poll revealed a slim two-percentage-point gap between Trump and Biden, with Biden at 44 percent and Trump at 42 percent. Nine percent of respondents remain undecided. Although these numbers have remained constant since April, Biden previously held a four-point lead over Trump in February. However, even Biden’s lead falls within the survey’s margin of error of ± 4.3 percent, essentially making it a statistical tie, Breitbart News reported.
Additionally, the survey indicates a deadlock among independents, with both candidates garnering 36 percent support. Furthermore, Trump leads Biden in Southern Minnesota, Western Minnesota, and Northeast Minnesota, while Biden maintains an edge in the Twin Cities.
? Minnesota GE: KSTP/Survey USA
? Biden 44% [=]
? Trump 42% [=]
? Other 9%[+/- change vs April ]
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• Feb: Biden 42-38%
• April: Biden 44-42%
• May: Biden 44-42%
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538: #14 (2.8/3.0) | 5/8-11 | LVs | ±4.3% pic.twitter.com/H1NTfkAfxM— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 14, 2024
The survey aligns with others indicating a close contest in Minnesota. A May McLaughlin & Associates poll, for instance, revealed Trump holding a three-point lead over Biden in the state, which has not supported a Republican presidential candidate for decades. In fact, the last time Minnesota voted Republican was in 1972, when Richard Nixon secured a landslide victory with 520 electoral votes, defeating Democrat George McGovern.
Trump nearly flipped the state in the 2016 election, falling short by just 1.5 percent, with 44.9 percent of the vote compared to Hillary Clinton’s 46.4 percent. Since then, Trump has emphasized his belief that Minnesota is within reach, launching an intense campaign effort to secure victory in the state this time around. “It’s not, like, in my opinion, that blue,” Trump told KNSI Radio. “We’re going to put a heavy move into Minnesota. I promise.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.