In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, former President Donald Trump holds a six-point lead over Democratic President Joe Biden, signaling growing dissatisfaction among Americans with the prospect of an election rematch.
The nationwide survey, conducted among 1,250 US adults, indicates Trump leading Biden by 40% to 34%, with the remaining respondents undecided or considering other options. The margin of error for the poll is three percentage points.
This marks a shift in Trump’s favor from an earlier Reuters/Ipsos poll this month, which showed him and Biden neck-and-neck. However, it’s important to note that a national poll may not fully capture the dynamics of the Electoral College, which will ultimately decide the outcome in key battleground states this fall.
Amid Trump’s recent victories in Iowa and New Hampshire over his sole remaining primary challenger, Nikki Haley, 67% of respondents expressed fatigue with the recurrent appearance of the same candidates in presidential elections, desiring fresh faces in the political arena. Nevertheless, only 18% indicated they would abstain from voting if faced with a choice between Biden and Trump.
Reflecting on the current political landscape, Kimberly Sofge, a 56-year-old project manager in Washington, D.C., lamented the perpetual selection between the “lesser of two evils,” urging for better alternatives.
Despite calls for new leadership, both Trump and Biden appear poised for a rematch, with the former’s recent wins energizing his supporters and the latter’s team projecting confidence in their ability to compete. However, Trump expressed frustration over Haley’s reluctance to drop out of the Republican race immediately.
Even when considering third-party candidates like anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump maintains a lead with 36% support, compared to Biden’s 30% and Kennedy’s 8%.
The poll also reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the US two-party system, with over half of respondents expressing discontent and a quarter expressing satisfaction.
Whitney Tallarico, a 33-year-old consultant in Washington, echoed sentiments of disillusionment, lamenting the lack of representation for independents and the dominance of polarizing figures.
As for the age factor, both Biden and Trump face skepticism regarding their fitness for office, with concerns about their advanced ages. Three-quarters of respondents deemed Biden too old for government work, while half expressed the same sentiment about Trump.
Against this backdrop, Haley, at 52, seeks to capitalize on dissatisfaction with her campaign for change, emphasizing the need for fresh leadership. However, Trump maintains a commanding lead over her in the polls.
Despite the discontent, high voter turnout is anticipated in the upcoming general election, driven by the motivation to defeat the opposing party. Fifty-nine percent of planned Biden voters cited opposition to Trump as their primary motivation, while Trump supporters expressed greater enthusiasm for their candidate and his policies.
Additionally, Trump faces the challenge of perceptions of criminality, with 55% of Republicans indicating he should be convicted and imprisoned if found guilty of breaking the law. However, Trump maintains a strong base of support, with many Republicans dismissing allegations against him as politically motivated.
