Former President Trump is trailing President Biden by four points nationally. New poll.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found Trump’s approval rating at 49% and Biden’s at 45% — a big improvement for Trump compared to a poll last month in which Biden had a slim one-point lead.
If third-party candidates are included, Trump’s lead grows slightly to 6 points. Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 11 percent support nationwide, according to the poll.
“Political temperatures are heating up in this steamy American summer of discord, with Trump holding a slight lead in head-to-head races and a slight advantage when all candidates are included,” Quinnipiac University pollster Tim Malloy said in a statement.
All eyes are on the first presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday night, with nearly three-quarters of respondents planning to tune in and about 16% saying the outcome of the debate could change their vote.
That includes 13 percent of Biden supporters, 12 percent of Trump supporters and a significant 32 percent of Kennedy supporters, according to the survey.
“When the lights go out on the first debate, will there be a change of heart or a seismic shift in loyalties? I don’t think there will be any with Biden or Trump supporters, but those who currently support Kennedy Jr. are a different story,” Malloy added.
The presidential election remains tight overall, with Trump leading Biden by 1.2 percentage points in The Hill/Decision Desk average of national polls.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted June 20-24 among about 1,600 adults and has a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.
