Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump polls better against Vice President Kamala Harris than President Biden and all other Democrats floated as potential replacement options on the ticket, several surveys show.
An NPR/PBS News/Marist College national poll released on July 12 found 50% of registered voters nationwide supported Biden’s 2024 candidacy, while 48% backed Trump, 78, in a head-to-head matchup.
Harris, 59, received the same 50% support from registered voters — but Trump improved to 49% when not facing his 2020 opponent again.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom fared the same against Trump as Biden (50%-48%), and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was tied with the GOP nominee at 49%, the survey showed.
An Economist/YouGov poll released last week found Trump ahead of Biden by 2 points (43%-41%) and with a 5 point advantage over Harris (44%-39%).
Earlier this month, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found Harris behind Trump by one point, Biden tied with the former president, and Whitmer, Newsom, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker all faring worse than Biden and Harris against Trump.
Among the four Democratic governors, Newsom polled best with 39% support to Trump’s 42% backing.
Beshear received 36% to Trump’s 40%; Whitmer garnered 36% to Trump’s 41%; and Pritzker had 34% support compared to Trump’s 40%.
In terms of favorability, Harris topped Biden, Trump, Newsom and Whitmer in an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released last week.
The survey showed Harris with a very or somewhat favorable rating of 43%, followed by Biden’s 38%, Trump’s 37%. Newsom’s 26% and Whitmer’s 24%.
When voters were asked if the Democratic alternatives to Biden would make good presidents, 30% believed the vice president would be good commander in chief. Only 17% said the same of Newsom and 15% responded that Whitmer would be a good president.
A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted last week showed Harris polling better than Biden against Trump, but pegged the former president ahead of both Democrats.
Trump held a three-point point edge over Harris (51%-48%), which was worse than his five point advantage over Biden (52%-47%) among likely voters.
Biden, the oldest president in American history, ended his re-election bid on Sunday amid mounting Democratic calls for him to drop out in the wake of his disastrous June 27 debate against Trump.
The president has endorsed Harris to run in his stead.