Donald Trump and Joe Biden are currently engaged in a tight race for the presidency, with a new poll from the New York Times and Siena College showing registered voters nationwide splitting 46% for Trump to 45% for Biden, with no clear leader in the contest. This is a tighter race compared to the last Times/Siena survey in late February, where Trump led by 5 points, but is consistent with the current CNN Poll of Polls average, which shows 48% supporting each candidate when incorporating the new poll data.
Even though the race remains close, public perception of the state of the country has not significantly changed. Most voters still believe that the US is heading in the wrong direction (64%), Biden’s approval rating remains negative (38% approve and 59% disapprove), and opinions on the economy lean towards bad rather than good, with 79% rating economic conditions as only fair or poor.
As Biden prepares a campaign swing through battleground Pennsylvania, he is focusing on drawing an economic contrast with Trump by highlighting his plans to raise taxes for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. Biden’s team is pointing out positive economic indicators such as low unemployment, wage gains, and a downward trend in inflation from its highest point earlier in the administration.
Meanwhile, Trump is also emphasizing his economic plans on the campaign trail. At a recent fundraiser in Florida where he raised $50.5 million, Trump mentioned that one of his priorities for a second term would be extending the tax cuts approved by congressional Republicans in 2017. He is expected to participate in a campaign rally and donor event in Pennsylvania as his criminal hush money trial begins on Monday.
According to the polling data, 54% of respondents feel that Trump has committed serious federal crimes, while 37% do not, which is consistent with the findings of the February Times/Siena poll. Despite the ongoing legal issues and negative perceptions, both candidates are focused on campaigning and presenting their economic plans to win over undecided voters.
Overall, the race for the presidency between Trump and Biden remains close, with no clear leader emerging in the latest poll data. Both candidates are emphasizing their economic plans and policies as they campaign in key battleground states like Pennsylvania. Public perception of the direction of the country and opinions on the economy remain largely unchanged, with a significant portion of voters believing that Trump has committed serious federal crimes. The upcoming events and campaign activities of both candidates will continue to shape the narrative leading up to the presidential election.
