In the latest polling data from Quinnipiac University released this week, former President Trump is shown to have a slight edge over President Biden in national support, leading by four percentage points. According to the survey, Trump garnered 49 percent of the respondents’ support, while Biden received 45 percent. This marks a notable shift from the previous month’s findings, where Biden held a narrow one-point lead.
When third-party candidates are factored into the equation, Trump’s lead extends to six points. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. captured 11 percent of the national support, according to the poll.
Commenting on the findings, Quinnipiac pollster Tim Malloy remarked on the intensifying political landscape amidst a contentious American summer. He noted that Trump maintains a narrow lead in a direct matchup and fares slightly better when considering all candidates.
The upcoming first presidential debate scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta has captured significant public attention, with nearly three-quarters of respondents indicating they intend to watch it. Surprisingly, about 16 percent of those surveyed admitted that the debate’s outcome could influence their voting decision, including 13 percent of Biden supporters, 12 percent of Trump supporters, and a notable 32 percent of Kennedy supporters.
Malloy expressed skepticism about the potential for major shifts in voter loyalty between Biden and Trump supporters following the debate but highlighted the more fluid situation among Kennedy’s supporters.
Overall, the presidential race remains tightly contested. Trump currently holds a 1.2 percentage point lead over Biden in the average of national polls tracked by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.
Conducted from June 20 to June 24, the Quinnipiac survey sampled approximately 1,600 adults and carries a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points. This data underscores the volatility and uncertainty characterizing the current political landscape as the nation approaches the next presidential election cycle.