Former President Donald Trump has surged ahead of the GOP primary field, widening his lead by over 40 points since June. Meanwhile, Democratic voters are voicing their concerns about President Joe Biden’s age and his handling of the economy, according to a recent NBC News poll.
Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the survey alongside Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt, remarked, “This survey is a startling flashing red light for an incumbent party.” The results showed that 59% of Republican voters want Trump, despite facing four criminal indictments and 91 charges, to represent the GOP in the 2024 election. This is an increase from 51% in a similar NBC poll conducted in June. Since then, Trump has faced federal and state cases related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and even had his mugshot taken in Georgia.
Although Biden’s numbers may not be where he wants them to be, Horwitt stated, “But the lens for most voters is still through Donald Trump first.” Concerns about Trump’s criminal and civil trials were expressed by 60% of surveyed voters from various political backgrounds. However, these concerns haven’t seemed to loosen his grip on the party. NBC reported that Trump’s recent gains primarily came from male, senior, and moderate GOP primary voters.
Interestingly, when asked about a hypothetical rematch of the 2020 election, 58% of Biden voters admitted that their vote is more against Trump than it is for the current president. In contrast, most Trump voters stated that their vote is less against Biden and more for the former president.
The NBC poll also revealed the rankings behind Trump in the GOP primary race. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slipped from 22% to 16% in the latest tally, securing a distant second place. Nikki Haley followed with 7%, while former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie each garnered 4%.
For President Biden, the poll brought sobering news. As he faces questions about his age since announcing his re-election bid, nearly 75% of registered voters expressed significant (59%) or moderate (15%) concerns about his age. In comparison, 47% expressed similar concerns about Trump. In a hypothetical rematch, Biden and Trump were tied among registered voters.
Overall, 56% of registered voters disapprove of Biden’s job performance, marking the highest disapproval rating of his presidency thus far. Additionally, only 28% indicated satisfaction with the state of the U.S., a 20-point drop since the beginning of Biden’s term. These numbers are particularly concerning for the Biden campaign, which intended to emphasize his handling of the economy during his re-election bid.
Adding to Biden’s worries, 59% of Democratic primary voters expressed a desire for someone to challenge him for the party’s nomination; however, no credible challenger has emerged as of yet.
The NBC poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters, was conducted from September 15-19. It offers fascinating insights into the current political landscape and the potential dynamics leading up to the 2024 elections.
