Trump Takes Lead over Biden as General Election Begins

The latest survey indicates a shift in favor of former President Donald Trump, showing him leading President Joe Biden by six points in a general election matchup, with Trump at 40 percent and Biden at 34 percent. The inclusion of third-party candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., did not significantly affect Trump’s lead. In a head-to-head matchup with Kennedy, Trump led with 36 percent, compared to 30 percent for Biden and eight percent for Kennedy.

The survey, conducted among 1,250 U.S. adults, aligns with a recent Harvard/Harris survey showing Trump leading Biden by seven points in a head-to-head matchup. When Kennedy was added to the mix, Trump’s lead increased to 41 percent to Biden’s 33 percent and Kennedy’s 18 percent.

The lead extended further when additional third-party candidates, Cornel West and Jill Stein, were included. In this scenario, Trump led with 42 percent, compared to Biden’s 31 percent, Kennedy’s 15 percent, and West and Stein with two percent each.

The surveys come amid calls for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to exit the race to consolidate Republican support behind one candidate for the upcoming elections. Even RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has suggested that Haley should drop out, citing challenges in seeing a viable path forward for her candidacy.