The alarm is sounding at the Biden-Harris headquarters as a new poll of swing states and the nation shows former President Donald Trump extending his lead over President Joe Biden, 109 days before the election.
Emerson College on Thursday announced the results of a poll that revealed President Trump leading the Democrat incumbent by a margin of 44% to 38% on the national stage, marking the largest lead he has achieved all year since the first poll was conducted just days after he narrowly escaped assassination.
The initial surge of sympathy for Trump seems to have spurred a significant shift in greater support, despite ongoing concerns about President Biden’s age dominating headlines. The impact of these results was particularly striking in eight swing states pivotal to deciding the outcome of the November election.
In Arizona, a state narrowly won by Biden in the last election, Trump now enjoys a 10% lead. Similarly, Georgia, which narrowly favored Biden and subsequently elected two Democratic U.S. Senators after Trump’s loss, now boasts a 5% advantage for Trump. Meanwhile, in Michigan, which is often considered one of the bluest midwestern states, besides Illinois, Trump leads Biden by 43% to 40%. Across all eight battlegrounds, leads by the GOP nominee either remained the same or expanded:
- Arizona: Trump 46%, Biden 36%, other candidates 8.2%
- Georgia: Trump 44%, Biden 39%, other candidates 9.3%
- Michigan: Trump 43%, Biden 40%, other candidates 8.3%
- Nevada: Trump 43%, Biden 40%, other candidates 9.2%
- North Carolina: Trump 47%, Biden 38%, other candidates 8.7%
- Pennsylvania: Trump 46%, Biden 40%, other candidates 6.3%
- Wisconsin: Trump 46%, Biden 43%, other candidates 6.5%
- National: Trump 44%, Biden 38%, other candidates 8.4 %
Trump also has a slight lead over Biden in Virginia, which Hillary Clinton won in 2016 and Biden won in 2020. Trump’s lead there is currently about 2 percent, but he’s tied with Biden when undecided voters are asked to give their preference.
Despite growing public dissatisfaction with Joe Biden, Democratic primary voters seem to be showing their loyalty to him. A majority of 64% are in favor of Biden staying in the race, while the remaining 36% believe it’s time for him to withdraw. However, there’s a clear divide among racial groups: White and Hispanic voters overwhelmingly support his resignation, with majorities in both, whereas 65% of Black voters are adamant that Biden should continue his campaign.
