Michigan – Recent articles by Michigan Times have highlighted President Biden’s difficulties in rallying support in Michigan and other crucial swing states that often determine election outcomes. Two months into the primary season, Biden has yet to secure strong backing from Michigan’s electorate, particularly among critical demographics such as Black, Arab, and Muslim communities.
This past week saw both President Biden and former President Trump securing their party nominations, setting the stage for a potential rematch this coming November. Despite facing multiple legal challenges, which he has sought to delay until after the election, Trump maintains a lead over Biden in Michigan, according to latest polls. Meanwhile, Biden has not capitalized on the current circumstances to bolster his position.
Quinnipiac University poll
In a recent poll from Quinnipiac University, if the 2024 election were to happen today, Trump is slightly in the lead over Biden, with 48% of the vote to Biden’s 45%, among voters in Michigan. This survey took place after Biden delivered his State of the Union speech.
Read also: Governor Whitmer signs bills targeting nitrous oxide abuse in Michigan
When the poll considered a scenario with more candidates, Trump’s advantage increased. Specifically, in a race with five candidates, including independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Green Party’s Jill Stein, Trump garnered 41% of the support. Biden was slightly behind with 36%, while Kennedy, Stein, and West received 10%, 4%, and 3%, respectively.
Registered voters back their party’s candidates
Digging into the numbers for just Trump versus Biden, it’s clear that both candidates have strong backing from their own political parties. A whopping 94% of Republican voters said they’d vote for Trump, and 93% of Democratic voters expressed their support for Biden. Among independents, the group that doesn’t lean heavily towards either major party, there’s a bit of a split. However, they tend to lean more towards Trump, with 46% supporting him compared to 42% for Biden. This split among independent voters shows that their support could swing the final outcome something that has been confirmed numerous times throughout the history.
“With a big electoral prize hanging in the balance and their parties equally enthusiastic about their candidates, Biden and Trump brace for a combative rematch,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement about the survey.
Michigan is shaping up to be a key state in the 2024 presidential race. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Trump leads Biden by 3.3 points in Michigan based on the average of several polls. The survey also explored what issues voters find most important. The top concerns are preserving democracy in the U.S. (22%), the economy (21%), and immigration (21%), out of a list of 10 issues.
Read also: Michigan, US Department of Energy inject $75 million into Nel’s hydrogen production facility
Democracy, immigration, economy – top concerns for voters from both parties
A large number of Democrats, 42%, see preserving U.S. democracy as their main concern. Gun violence and the economy also matter to them, but less so, with 12% and 10% respectively.
For Republicans, immigration is the biggest issue, with 42% ranking it highest. The economy comes next for them, at 24%. No other topic hit double digits in importance. Independents put the economy at the top of their list (26%), followed by democracy (21%) and immigration (18%).
The poll found that 65% of Michigan’s registered voters see the economy negatively. However, 61% rate their own financial situation positively.
“A head scratcher, but a fact: 65 percent of Michigan voters seem to think the economy is shaky at best, but nearly the same number say their finances are doing just fine,” Malloy said in the statement.
The poll, which ran from March 8 to 12, included 1,487 registered voters in Michigan and had a 2.5 percentage point margin of error.