A recent survey conducted by The New York Times and Siena College shows that President Biden has managed to erase Donald J. Trump’s early polling advantage, with the two candidates now virtually tied in the race for the presidency. The results reveal that Mr. Biden has increased his support among traditional Democratic voters, winning a greater share of voters who supported him in 2020. However, the contest between the two candidates is expected to be incredibly close, given the current political climate in the country.
Despite the narrowing contest, many of the fundamental issues in the race remain unchanged. A significant portion of voters believe that the nation is headed in the wrong direction, and the economy continues to be a major concern for voters, with almost 80 percent rating the economic conditions as fair or poor. Both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump remain unpopular among voters, with most people thinking Mr. Biden is too old and a majority believing that Mr. Trump has committed serious federal crimes.
The survey also highlights an improvement in Mr. Biden’s support among certain demographic groups. His support has increased among Black and Latino voters, though it still lags behind traditional levels of Democratic support. Mr. Biden’s performance has also seen an uptick among women and in suburbs, though he remains weaker among men and younger voters. Older voters, on the other hand, provide a source of relative strength for the Democratic president.
One major issue for Mr. Biden continues to be his age, with 69 percent of voters seeing him as too old to be an effective president. On the other hand, voters do not have the same doubts about Mr. Trump’s capacity to serve, with only 41 percent viewing him as too old. Among voters over 65, the share who view Mr. Biden as too old has dropped significantly, suggesting a shift in perceptions about the Democratic president’s ability to lead.
In terms of policy issues, Mr. Trump has an edge over Mr. Biden on the economy and immigration, with more voters approving of Mr. Trump’s handling of these issues. However, Mr. Biden receives higher ratings on his ability to unite the nation, race relations, and the pandemic. The war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East have also influenced voters’ perceptions, with Mr. Trump receiving higher marks on his handling of foreign conflicts.
The survey also found that equal shares of voters see both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump as a risky choice for the country, and roughly 5 percent of voters are considering third-party candidates. The looming criminal trial facing Mr. Trump has not had a significant impact on voter perceptions, with many respondents paying little to no attention to the former president’s legal troubles. Overall, the race between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump remains extremely close, with both campaigns gearing up for what could be a decisive election in 2024.
