Trump overtakes Biden in 5 swing states; poll shows why US desires major change
FILE PHOTO: Combination picture showing former U.S. President Donald Trump attending the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 6, 2023 and U.S. President Joe Biden participating in a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid and Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo/File Photo
Former US President Donald Trump is counting on this year's presidential elections to swoop in for Term 2. The latest New York Times, Siena College, and the Philadelphia Inquirer poll out on Monday morning revealed that the ex-president is leading in five of six key swing states.
Meanwhile, Biden's chances of a new term have been undermined despite months of campaigning. Reportedly, young and non-white voters have particularly expressed their discontentment over his handling of the economy and the war in Gaza.
The survey shows that Trump is currently dominating the head-to-head presidential rivalry with Biden, having favourably won the registered voters' support in Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Biden led the poll in merely one state - Wisconsin. It was also noted that all six states stood in favour of Biden in 2020.
After his State of the Union address in March, Biden gained a sudden surge of support, but his stance on pressing issues like immigration, cost of living and Israel's occupation in Gaza has seemingly pushed voters's desire for change.
Trump vs Biden: Why voters desire a change in the US
As per the poll numbers, it was also recorded that US citizens are deeply bent on welcoming a change, which they feel will be more likely delivered by Trump over Biden. 14% of pollers said that the system had “to be torn down entirely," while 55% were in favour of “major changes."
Although the voters weren't certain if the potential change reeled in by Trump would be good or bad, their doubts about Biden's ability to deliver positive changes were even lower. Only 13% of Biden's supporters believe that will deliver improvements in his second term. On the other hand, those against Trump acknowledged that he may shake things up.
Who voted more for whom?
Trump and Biden tied among 18-to-29-year-old and Hispanic voters. Even among these voters, the poll showed that over 60% voted for Biden in 2020. Trump led the numbers among Black voters, marking the highest extent of Black support for any Republican presidential candidate since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted.
On the contrary, Biden stayed relatively strong among older and white voters, representing a quota that is less likely to push for changes to the systems. For the same reason, Biden steadily maintained his competitive numbers in relatively white Northern swing states - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The economy fared as another one of Biden's vulnerabilities, as 40% of Trump's supporters underscored its influence on their standing. On the flip side, the poll presented the issue of abortion as Trump's kryptonite, as 64% of voters on average in battleground states highlighted that abortion should be “always or mostly legal.” These numbers also included 44% of Trump loyalists.
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