Trump leads Biden in key battleground states
- Trump is currently in the midst of a criminal trial in New York
- Biden is losing support among young voters over the war in Gaza
- Trump is ahead in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania
(NewsNation) — Polling shows the hush money trial currently underway in Manhattan doesn’t seem to be affecting former President Donald Trump’s standing in the eyes of voters as he’s leading the polls in five battleground states.
According to the New York Times/Siena College poll, Trump is leading President Joe Biden in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Biden’s biggest loss of support has come from young and nonwhite voters.
It’s potentially concerning for the Biden campaign, as he is now only leading Trump in Wisconsin, where he was last week slamming Trump on the economy.
Young and nonwhite voters have been turning from Biden as they are frustrated with the economy and the administration’s handling of the war in Gaza. Younger voters, in particular, have been paying attention to America’s role in the conflict.
While Biden recently paused a shipment of weapons to Israel as the country pressed ahead with military operations in Rafah despite calls from the international community to hold back, he has continued to express steadfast support for Israel. In response, protests against the war have been erupting at college campuses around the country.
As of this latest poll, Trump and Biden are essentially tied among 18-to-29-year-olds and Hispanic voters. In 2020, those two groups gave Biden more than 60% of their vote.
Trump is also winning the support of more than 20% of Black voters, which would be the highest level of Black support for any Republican presidential candidate since the Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964.
To break down the results, Trump is leading 49% to 42% in Arizona, 49% to 39% in Georgia, 49% to 40% in Michigan, 50% to 38% in Nevada and 47% to 44% in Biden’s home state of Pennsylvania. While Biden still leads in Wisconsin, he is only ahead by two percentage points.
NewsNation reached out to the Biden campaign for comment and has not heard a response.