Ryan Nicol
President Donald Trump is closing the gap in Florida as he attempts to hold off a challenge from former Vice President Joe Biden.
That’s according to a new survey from the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI). The poll puts Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, at 49% support. Trump, the Republican incumbent, is earning 46% support.
That 3-point lead is within the poll’s margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. It’s also a narrower edge for Biden than the last FAU BEPI survey in May, which saw Biden ahead 53%-47%.
“Florida continues to be too close to call, but the enthusiasm still favors President Trump, and that could be the difference,” said Kevin Wagner, a professor of political science at FAU and a research fellow of the Initiative.
“With only 5% of the voters undecided, this election is less about persuasion and more about turnout.”
Those undecided voters are leaning toward Trump, according to the survey. After forcing undecideds to pick between the two, the majority went for Trump, leaving the two candidates at a 50%-50% tie.
The survey found 97% of Trump supporters and 94% of Biden backers are locked into their respective selections. Among the 631 registered voters sampled, just 9% said they might change their minds before submitting their ballot. The survey ran from Sept. 11-12.
Voters put the economy as the top issue in the Nov. 3 election, with 37% saying it was most important. COVID-19 ranked second at 17%, followed by health care at 14%. Those three issues are inextricably tied, with the pandemic forcing a mass economic slowdown in recent months.
Still, voters are telling the FAU BEPI pollsters the economic effect of the virus reigns supreme in their minds.
“The economy is still the number one issue for voters, so that might explain why Trump has seen a bounce-back in the state,” said Monica Escaleras, director of FAU BEPI in the College of Business.
The survey also found 82% of voters were confident in the results of the election as President Trump continues to push unfounded and unprecedented claims for an incumbent that the November election will be rigged against him.
3 comments
Sonja Fitch
September 15, 2020 at 11:06 am
Straighten up folks! The goptrump cult Leader trump has absolutely no idea how to lead plan or represent the common good! Vote Democrat up and down ballot!
Craig Baxter
September 15, 2020 at 2:42 pm
HOW and WHY would ANYONE think it logical to vote for Trump? He is corrupt, stupid, weak, and he watched callously as THOUSANDS of Floridians and Americans DIED from a virus that he dismissed. Why did he dismiss it? Because he doesn’t care about you or your family and loved ones.
His singular goal is to hold onto power. If that means pardoning his criminal friends, he’ll do it. If that means conspiring with Russia–a nation that wants to bring America to ruin–he’ll do it.
If that means adding Supreme Court justices who will do away with the 22nd Amendment, you can believe he’ll do that too.
He doesn’t respect the Constitution, your rights, or your life. That is obvious.
There is no good reason at all to vote for this man, OR the senators and congress people who have enabled him in his path to destroy American democracy.
Wake up! Vote Democrat up and down your ballot!
Janice Mack
September 16, 2020 at 3:43 am
Amen! Trump and his supporters are downright evil.
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