According to a recent national survey conducted by Emerson College Polling, former President Trump maintains a lead over President Biden in a hypothetical head-to-head contest and even when considering third-party candidates in the race. The poll, conducted in April, indicates that 46 percent of voters prefer Trump, with 43 percent supporting Biden, and 12 percent remaining undecided. However, when leaning undecided voters are taken into account, Trump’s support increases to 51 percent, while Biden’s rises to 48 percent.
The inclusion of independent presidential candidates in the survey adds nuance to the results. When these candidates are factored into the ballot test, Trump garners 44 percent support, Biden receives 40 percent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secures 8 percent, Cornel West captures 1 percent, and 8 percent remain undecided. These findings offer insights into voter preferences beyond the traditional two-party framework.
Additionally, the survey delved into public perceptions regarding the cost of living in the United States. An overwhelming 75 percent of respondents believe that the cost of living is increasing, while 18 percent perceive it as remaining the same, and 7 percent think it’s easing. Interestingly, voters who perceive a rising cost of living overwhelmingly support Trump over Biden, with a significant margin of 56% to 32%. Conversely, those who believe the cost of living is stable or decreasing predominantly support Biden over Trump, with 94% to 6% and 67% to 18%, respectively.
The survey also sheds light on the top concerns among voters. Thirty-six percent of respondents identified the economy as the most critical issue, followed by immigration at 21 percent. Only 7 percent of voters cited abortion access as their primary concern, highlighting the prominence of economic and immigration-related issues in the public discourse.
The survey, conducted among 1,308 registered voters from April 16-17, carries a credibility interval of +/- 2.6 percentage points, providing a statistically significant snapshot of current voter sentiments and priorities.
