National poll conducted by CNN has revealed intriguing insights into the dynamics of the upcoming 2024 presidential election, suggesting a significant shift in voter sentiment. According to the poll released on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris appears to edge out President Joe Biden in a hypothetical matchup against former President Donald Trump.
The survey underscores growing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s electability following a challenging debate performance last Thursday. Biden, currently the oldest president in U.S. history at 81 years old, faced criticism for his delivery and responses during the debate, prompting calls from some quarters for him to reconsider his candidacy.
Among the findings, the poll indicates that while Trump maintains a consistent lead over Biden among registered voters nationwide, Harris narrows this gap significantly. Trump leads Biden by six points, with 49% to 43% support respectively, but his margin decreases to just two points when pitted against Harris, who garners 47% support to Trump’s 45%.
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The shift in favorability towards Harris can be attributed to broader support from women and independents. Female voters favor Harris over Trump by 50%, compared to 44% for Biden, and independents show a preference for Harris at 43%, versus 34% for Biden.
Interestingly, the poll also explores alternative Democratic candidates in the event Biden withdraws from the race. California Governor Gavin Newsom trails Trump by five points, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer both lag by four and five points respectively.
Despite these figures, Biden’s campaign remains adamant that he will continue his bid for a second term, citing increased support among Democratic voters from 85% in April to 91% presently. Conversely, Trump retains robust backing from 93% of Republicans, maintaining his stronghold in the party.
However, Trump holds a ten-point lead among independents, a pivotal demographic for the upcoming election, highlighting a potential advantage in voter turnout.
The CNN poll’s release coincides with a similar survey by USA Today/Suffolk University, reinforcing Trump’s slight lead over Biden among registered voters. The findings suggest challenges ahead for Biden, with a notable enthusiasm gap observed between supporters of the two candidates. While 59% of Trump supporters express strong excitement about their candidate, only 29% of Biden supporters mirror this enthusiasm.
These developments underscore the critical juncture facing Biden’s campaign and the Democratic Party as they strategize for the 2024 election.
