Biden support in potential Trump rematch slips: survey

Support slipped for President Biden in a hypothetical 2024 rematch against former President Trump, according to a Monmouth University poll. It showed Trump with a 1 point edge over Biden among registered voters.

Just 42 percent of registered voters said they’d back Biden against Trump — 31 percent who said they’ll definitely do so and 11 percent who said they’ll probably cast their ballots for him. That figure is down 5 points from July, when 47 percent said they’d vote for the incumbent against the former president.

In the latest poll, 31 percent said they’d definitely support Trump and 12 percent said they probably would, for a combined 43 percent. That’s up from July, when 40 percent said they’d vote for Trump over Biden. 

Majorities said they’ll definitely or probably not vote for the leading candidates — 57 percent for Biden and 56 percent for Trump. 

The Monmouth University report notes Biden’s decline in backing is due “mainly to a significant slip in support” among Black, Latino and Asian voters, while Trump has seen improvement with those demographics. 

Biden is running for reelection despite concerns about his age — at 80 — but his campaign and supporters have largely shrugged off the president’s poor poll numbers, pointing to the incumbent’s record and accomplishments.

Trump is seeking a return to the Oval Office as he faces ongoing legal battles, including multiple criminal indictments. As the clear front-runner in the Republican primary race, he’s skipped his party’s first and second debates.

The Monmouth University poll was conducted Sept. 19-24 among 737 registered voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.