Trump Expands Lead Over Biden in Rematch Many Americans Oppose, Says Reuters

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON – A recent poll indicates that Donald Trump holds a six-point lead over Democratic President Joe Biden, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among Americans regarding a potential rematch between the two candidates.

The nationwide survey, which queried 1,250 U.S. adults, found Trump leading Biden by 40% to 34%, with the remainder uncertain, intending to vote for alternative candidates, or not planning to vote at all. This poll has a margin of error of three percentage points.

This latest data marks an improvement for Trump, who was previously tied with Biden in an earlier poll. However, it’s important to note that national polls may not accurately represent the dynamics of the electoral college, which will ultimately be decided in a few battleground states.

Following Trump’s decisive win against his only remaining primary competitor, Nikki Haley, in New Hampshire, approximately 67% of those surveyed expressed fatigue with the idea of seeing the same candidates run for president and desire fresh faces. Nevertheless, only 18% indicated they would abstain from voting if the choice were between Biden and Trump.

"I hate to think that we’re constantly navigating the lesser of two evils," remarked Kimberly Sofge, a 56-year-old project manager in Washington, D.C. "I honestly feel that we can do better."

Both Trump and Biden appear prepared for a rematch, especially after Trump’s successful performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. The White House considers Trump a beatable candidate, while Trump has expressed frustration over Haley’s decision to remain in the race.

Trump’s lead persists even when participants were allowed to consider third-party options, with Trump receiving 36% support, Biden 30%, and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 8%.

More than half of the respondents voiced discontent with the current two-party system, while only one in four reported satisfaction with it.

Whitney Tallarico, a 33-year-old consultant in Washington, echoed these sentiments. "The independents don’t really have a voice. Polarizing figures usually dominate the spotlight, and it’s a little sad for our country," she said, affirming her intent to likely support a third-party candidate.

The poll revealed significant apprehension regarding the candidates themselves. Seventy percent of respondents, including roughly half of Democrats, agreed that Biden should not pursue re-election. Additionally, 56% of participants believed Trump should refrain from running, which includes about a third of Republicans.

Biden’s age has been a significant concern, as many perceive him as too old for the presidency at 81 years. About 75% of respondents felt he was too old for government work, while half expressed similar sentiments about Trump, who, at 77, would also be among the oldest presidents if re-elected. Just over half of Democrats considered Biden too old, while a third of Republicans viewed Trump in the same light.

Haley, who is 52, is attempting to leverage this widespread discontent in an effort to revive her campaign.

"Most Americans do not want a rematch between Biden and Trump," Haley stated following her defeat in New Hampshire. "The first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate will be the one that wins this election."

The new poll showed Trump leading Haley by an overwhelming margin of 64% to 19% as they approach the upcoming Republican nomination contest in South Carolina.

Despite the discontent, voter turnout in the upcoming general election could be high, driven by strong motivations from both sides to defeat the opposition.

Sixty-nine percent of those planning to vote for Biden indicated their primary motivation stems from their opposition to Trump. Conversely, Trump supporters generally expressed more positivity toward their candidate, with only 39% acknowledging their vote as primarily against Biden.

The anti-Trump sentiment significantly contributed to Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, which saw record voter turnout.

Another potential concern for Trump is that 55% of Republicans believe he should face conviction and imprisonment if found guilty of legal violations. Currently, Trump confronts four criminal prosecutions and has argued that he deserves immunity for actions taken while in office.

However, most Republicans maintain that Trump is not guilty; only one in five Republican respondents deemed it believable that he solicited election fraud—one of his principal charges—while a significant majority asserted that his opponents were misusing the legal system to hinder his candidacy.