In the highly contested battleground state of Pennsylvania, the race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump remains nail-bitingly close, according to a recent poll.
This survey of registered voters conducted by Quinnipiac University from January 4th to 8th revealed that Biden is currently leading with 49 percent of the support, while Trump closely trails behind at 46 percent. This marks the first poll in Pennsylvania to show Biden with a slight advantage over Trump. However, it is essential to note that recent elections in other swing states have also indicated a close race, with Trump often holding the edge in both these states and some national polls.
Pennsylvania’s significance in the 2020 election cannot be understated. With 19 electoral college votes, it played a pivotal role in Biden’s victory, where he secured a slim margin of just over one percentage point. In 2016, Trump won the state by a narrow margin of three-quarters of a percentage point against Hillary Clinton.
In a hypothetical scenario involving third-party candidates, the poll revealed that Biden received 41 percent support, while Trump garnered 39 percent. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. gained 11 percent support, followed by Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 4 percent and independent candidate Cornel West at 2 percent.
Despite his current poll lead, Biden’s job performance received mixed reviews from Pennsylvania voters. Only 40 percent approved of his performance, while a majority of 58 percent expressed their disapproval. In contrast, Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro enjoyed a more substantial approval rating of 59 percent, outperforming the president.
Regarding the upcoming Senate race, Democratic Senator Bob Casey holds a comfortable lead over his Republican challenger, David McCormick. The poll showed Casey a 10 percent advantage, leading McCormick by 53-43 percent.
The survey, which had a sample size of 1,680 registered voters, employed random-digit dialing over the telephone. Considering the margin of error, which stands at plus or minus 2.4 percentage points, is essential.
As the battle for Pennsylvania intensifies, both Biden and Trump will continue their efforts to sway voters in this crucial swing state. With its history of close races and significant electoral college votes, Pennsylvania remains a key battleground that could ultimately shape the future of American politics.