July 12, 2024
Contest for President Still “Up for Grabs”
Biden +2 Percentage Points Against Trump, Despite Concerns about Biden’s Mental Fitness
With just days to go before the start of the Republican National Convention, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump continue to be closely matched among registered voters in both a head-to-head matchup and a multicandidate field. Biden’s support remains relatively unchanged from last month despite the view of many Americans that he lacks the mental fitness to serve as president. However, Biden outperforms Trump on whether either candidate has the character to be President of the United States, and by more than two to one, Americans are more concerned about a president who lies than they are about someone who is too old to serve. Both candidates remain flawed in the eyes of Americans, and majorities say neither should be on the ballot. Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Gretchen Whitmer do not improve the Democrats’ chances against Trump.
Among registered voters nationally including leaners, Biden receives 50% to 48% in the two-way presidential matchup. Two percent are undecided. Biden and Trump were tied (49% to 49%) in last month’s pre-debate NPR/PBS News/Marist survey.
Among voters who have an unfavorable impression of both candidates, four percentage points separate Trump (47%) and Biden (43%). Trump was previously +7 percentage points over Biden among voters who dislike both Biden and Trump.
Trump (43%) and Biden (42%) are competitive among registered voters in a multicandidate field which includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (8%), Cornel West (3%), Jill Stein (2%), and Chase Oliver (<1%). Two percent are undecided. In June, Trump (42%) was also +1 percentage point against Biden (41%) with Kennedy (11%) as the only other candidate with support in double digits.
Among those who say they definitely plan to vote in November’s election, Biden (45%) and Trump (45%) are tied in this multicandidate field.
"Despite a series of cataclysmic political events, including Trump’s felony convictions and Biden’s abysmal debate performance, the race for the White House remains essentially unchanged," says Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. "But Biden needs to restore confidence among his party faithful that he can win. And Trump needs to tread very lightly during the Republican convention about Project 2025 and avoid positioning the GOP as too extreme."
Biden Viewed as Lacking the Mental Fitness to Serve, Americans Divide About Trump
Nearly two in three Americans (64%), including 38% of Democrats and 35% of Biden supporters, do not think Biden has the mental fitness to serve as president. 68% of independents say the same.
Americans divide (50% mentally fit to 49% mentally unfit) about Trump’s mental acuity.
Majority Believes Biden Has the Character to be President, Trump Falls Short
52% of Americans think Biden has the character to serve as president. 47% disagree. 50% of independents and just 10% of Democrats question Biden’s character to serve as president.
A majority of Americans (56%), including 18% of Republicans and 58% of independents, do not think Trump has the character to be President of the United States.
Honesty Trumps Age
Americans are overwhelmingly more concerned about a president who plays fast and loose with the facts than someone who is too old to serve. Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%) think it is more concerning if a president does not tell the truth. Nearly one in three (32%) think it is more concerning if someone is too old to serve. Democrats (85%), independents (66%), and a slim majority of Republicans (51%) agree that dishonesty is of greater concern over advanced age.
Nearly Six in Ten Think Trump will Win
Regardless of whom they plan to support, 59% of Americans think Trump will win this year’s presidential election. Most Republicans (93%) and a majority of independents (58%) think Trump will be victorious. Even 24% of Democrats and 22% of Biden supporters think Trump will win.
Neither Trump nor Biden Should be on the Ballot, Say Majorities
A majority of Americans (56%) do not think that Biden should be the Democratic candidate this year. A similar proportion of Americans (54%) do not think Trump should be the Republican nominee. However, Democrats (40%) are more likely to say that Biden should not be the Democratic candidate than Republicans (13%) are to say that Trump should not be the GOP nominee.
Biden and Trump Favorable Ratings Remain Upside Down
A majority of Americans (51%) have an unfavorable view of Biden, and 43% have a favorable one. Trump’s ratings are similar. 53% have a negative impression of Trump, and 43% have a positive one. Biden and Trump’s favorable ratings are little changed from last month.
Biden’s job approval rating is little changed at 43%. Last month, 41% of Americans approved of how Biden was doing his job. 52% disapprove, and 5% are unsure. One in four residents (25%) strongly approve of Biden’s job performance, and 40% strongly disapprove.
Newsom, Harris, Whitmer Match or Underperform Biden Against Trump
If Biden decides to drop out of the presidential contest, other potential Democratic candidates do not improve the Democrats chances against Trump.
- Harris receives support from 50% of registered voters to 49% for Trump.
- Newsom garners 50% to 48% for Trump.
- Whitmer receives 49% of the vote to 49% for Trump.
Among independents, Trump receives majority support against Harris and Whitmer. Independents divide when asked to choose between Trump and Newsom.
Plurality of Americans with Little Knowledge of Project 2025
44% of Americans have either never heard of or are unsure what to think of Project 2025, a proposed blueprint for governing spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation which includes significant changes to the Executive Branch of government. 41% have an unfavorable opinion of Project 2025, and 15% have a favorable view of the plan.
Of note, 62% of Trump supporters have either never heard of or are unsure about Project 2025. 66% of Biden backers have a negative opinion of the plan.
Half of Americans Associate Project 2025 with Trump
50% of residents nationally associate Project 2025 with Trump while 11% associate it with Biden. A notable 39%, including 54% of Republicans and 37% of independents, don’t know enough about it to say.
Democrats Edge GOP in Congressional Generic Ballot
Among registered voters nationally, 46% say they plan to vote for the Democrat running for Congress in their district. 44% say they plan to support the Republican. Two percent expect to support another candidate, and 8% are undecided. When last reported in May, Democrats and Republicans were tied. Little consensus exists among independents, with more than one in five independents (22%) reporting they are undecided.
Most Registered Voters Plan to Vote for President
Nine in ten voters nationally (90%) plan to cast a ballot for president. Seven percent say they plan to skip the presidential line and vote for other candidates and ballot measures. Three percent report that they are not likely to vote.