Biden narrowly leads Trump in head-to-head race in new Marist poll
The presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is close. The two are neck and neck in an NPR/PBS News Hour/Marist national poll released Thursday.
Biden leads Trump among registered voters 50% to 48% in a head-to-head race, but Trump leads Biden 44% to 40% in a multi-candidate field, according to the poll of 1,261 adults surveyed May 21 through May 23. It found third-party candidates Cornel West and Jill Stein — not Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — are making the difference, pulling support away from Biden.
"Despite Biden’s campaign appearances and Trump’s court appearances, the contest for president has been and remains tight," Marist Institute for Public Opinion Director Lee M. Miringoff said in a statement. "When it comes to this rematch, it’s as if voters are saying, 'tell me something about Biden and Trump, I don’t already know.'"
A majority of registered voters reported they were closely paying attention to the presidential election and most said they aren't fans of either candidate. Of those polled, 54% said they have an unfavorable view of Trump and 52% said they have an unfavorable view of Biden.
Prep for the Polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide
Most Americans have made up their minds
With five months left to go before the November election, 66% of voters surveyed said they already know how they will vote and that nothing will change their mind.
Despite following Trump's criminal "hush money" trial in New York, the poll found 67% of registered voters said a guilty verdict would make no difference in the way they will vote.
Only 7% of those polled said they don't know who they will vote for and 25% said they have a "good idea" but could change their mind. Of voters who said they definitely plan to vote in November, 73% reported they are certain who they will support.
More: Israel's war in Gaza could continue until end of year; White House wants an end soon
Americans split on U.S. support for Israel
The Israel-Hamas war has been a contentious issue for Biden to navigate as president. The poll found Americans are divided on U.S. involvement in the conflict, with 38% thinking the country is giving Israel the right amount of military aid, 35% believing it is giving Israel too much, and 23% thinking it is giving Israel too little.
Nearly half of Americans surveyed said they think the U.S. should support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas but should also encourage the protection of Palestinian civilians. A quarter of those polled said the U.S. should halt aid to Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza and 23% said it should fully support all of Israel's military actions against Hamas.
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden leads Trump in head-to-head race, new poll finds
