Emerson College Poll: Trump Leads Biden by 3 Points

A new Emerson College national poll released Thursday shows former President Donald Trump with the lead over President Joe Biden after the president’s polling rate dropped since early April.

In this latest poll, Trump edges ahead of Biden by a narrow margin, garnering 46% of support compared to Biden’s 43%. This represents a 2-percentage point decline for Biden since the previous Emerson poll conducted earlier in April, while Trump maintains his position at 46%, as reported by The Hill.

The Emerson College Polling survey, carried out from April 16th to 17th, encompassed 1,308 registered voters and carried a margin of error of 2.6 percent.

Interestingly, the survey found that while 12% of voters initially identified as undecided, when prompted to choose a candidate, Trump’s numbers surged to 51%, with Biden trailing at 48%, thus maintaining Trump’s 3-point lead.

However, the inclusion of independent candidates in the survey altered the dynamics, with both Trump and Biden experiencing a decrease in support. Trump’s numbers dropped to 44%, while Biden’s fell to 40%.

Among the independent candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emerged with 8% support, accompanied by 8% of respondents who remained undecided. Additionally, 1% of voters threw their support behind Cornel West.

The poll also identified immigration and the economy as pivotal issues for voters, with a significant majority expressing concerns about the rising cost of living. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that 70% of respondents believed the cost of living was on the rise. Interestingly, those who held this view were more inclined to support Trump over Biden, with a margin of 56% to 32%.

Kimball further highlighted the correlation between perceptions of the economy and political preferences: “Voters who think the cost of living is rising support Trump over Biden, 56% to 32%,” he said. “Those who feel the cost of living is easing or staying the same support Biden over Trump, 94% to 6% and 67% to 18%.”

The survey also delved into public opinion regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, revealing a significant divide in perceptions of information accuracy. Forty-four percent of respondents expressed skepticism about receiving comprehensive information about the conflict.

Kimball commented on the disparity: “Perceptions of receiving accurate war information show a significant split. Biden leads among those who think they are getting accurate information (53% to 36%), while Trump leads among skeptics (53% to 38%). Those unsure are divided, with 44% leaning toward Trump and 42% toward Biden.”

{Rachel Weinfeld – Matzav.com}