Source: CNN
Former President Donald Trump has taken a slight lead over President Joe Biden in national polls, with only one percentage point separating the two candidates, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average. This marks Trump’s smallest lead since January, as Biden has been gaining ground and showing signs of increased momentum. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Biden with a slight lead, and the monthly Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll revealed him pulling into ties in Michigan and Pennsylvania and gaining an edge in Wisconsin. These strong numbers for Biden come amid shifts in strategy from his campaign, including targeting supporters of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who recently exited the GOP race.
The Biden campaign’s recent efforts to attract Nikki Haley supporters seem to be paying off, as a February Quinnipiac poll showed that a majority of Republican-leaning Haley voters would vote for Trump over Biden. However, recent polls have shown a slight uptick in Biden’s favor, with at least eight national surveys in March showing him leading Trump. While Trump still leads in the majority of polls this month, Biden’s fundraising efforts have been strong, culminating in a record-breaking event in New York City that raised $25 million. The fundraiser, which featured appearances by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as musical performances by Lizzo and Queen Latifah, was touted as the most successful political fundraiser in history.
Biden’s strong polling numbers follow his well-received State of the Union speech on March 7, which many supporters believe boosted his image and energized his campaign. The recent polling showing Trump and Biden nearly tied has prompted pollsters to label the upcoming election as a toss-up. While Trump’s campaign spokesperson has pushed back against these trends, citing polls showing Trump leading in key battleground states and winning over independents by double digits, Biden continues to close the gap. Trump still maintains a lead in most swing states, according to the Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll, but Biden’s recent gains suggest a tightening race as the election approaches. Biden has also been working to counter one of his critics’ main lines of attack by joking about his age and stamina and highlighting the differences between his busy campaign schedule and Trump’s golfing outings.
