Recent polling data indicates that former President Trump has taken a two-point lead over current President Joe Biden in the state of Virginia, according to an Emerson/The Hill survey conducted among 1,000 registered voters. This is the second poll this week showing Trump ahead in the historically blue state. The results of the Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball discussed with The Hill show that 45% of Virginia voters support Trump while 43% back Biden, with 11% remaining undecided. The margin of error for this poll is plus or minus three points.
The survey found that independent voters in the state broke for Trump at a rate of 46% to 38%, a group that had previously favored Biden by double digits during the last election cycle. When leaners are included, the race is tied at 50. Interestingly, when third-party candidates were added in, Trump’s lead in Virginia increased to five points, with his support standing at 43% compared to Biden’s 38. In a hypothetical matchup against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump still leads, 47 to 45.
Other recent polling has shown the president struggling in the Old Dominion state. A Florida Atlantic University (FAU) poll released on Wednesday showed Biden leading Trump by five points, 47 to 42 percent. The RealClearPolitics poll of Virginia polls, which does not include the FAU survey, has Trump leading for the first time at a slim margin, 43.8% to 43.4.
The Emerson College Polling also surveyed seven other swing states, with Trump leading in all seven.
Pennsylvania: Trump (48%) ahead of Biden (43.
Wisconsin: Trump (48%) ahead of Biden (43.
Michigan: Trump (45%) ahead of Biden (42.
Arizona: Trump (47%) ahead of Biden (40.
Georgia: Trump (47%) ahead of Biden (41.
Nevada: Trump (46%) ahead of Biden (41.
North Carolina: Trump (48%) ahead of Biden (41.
This comes as Democrats are growing increasingly concerned about President Biden’s performance, leading some to suggest that the party may need to replace him with his vice president, Kamala Harris, who ran a notably unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020.