PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Among general election voters 

NATIONWIDE

(Fox News) Biden over Trump: +7 (49-42)
(PBS/NPR) Biden over Trump: +11 (53-42)
Average of last seven polls: Biden +7.7

RON’S COMMENT: Two more polls showing Biden clearly ahead. The Fox News survey finds that:

• Trump’s personal rating is 43% favorable/55% unfavorable.
• Biden’s personal rating is 53% favorable/43% unfavorable.
• 47% of voters believe Biden is a strong leader, 44% say so about Trump.
• Poll report on voter interest: “Some 62% are extremely interested in the election––and among just those voters, Biden’s lead expands to 55-41 percent. He’s helped by more of his backers (71%) than Trump’s (61%) being extremely interested.”
  • However, the PBS/NPR poll shows that a greater proportion of Trump’s voters (76%) “strongly” support their candidate than do Biden’s voters (64%).
• Poll report on issue preference: Biden is “seen as better to handle race relations (by 19 points), health care (+15), coronavirus (+14 points), relations with China (+11), nominating the next Supreme Court justice (+10), immigration (+7), and policing and criminal justice (+6). There’s one exception: more trust Trump on the economy, by 3 points.”
• Fed reaction to virus: 13% of voters believe the federal government overreacted to the coronavirus, 29% believe it reacted appropriately and 54% believe it didn’t take it seriously.

IN THE STATES

State Trump carried in 2016: 
NORTH CAROLINA: Biden +1

RON’S COMMENT: Yesterday, we reported two polls showing Trump with small leads in North Carolina. Today’s Republican-affiliated poll also shows a tight race, but with Biden leading.

KAMALA HARRIS VP PICK

Among voters nationwide

Based on what you know, do you approve or disapprove of Joe Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate? 

AMONG DEMOCRATS:
Strongly approve: 55%
Somewhat approve: 30%
Somewhat disapprove: 5%
Strongly disapprove: 3%

AMONG INDEPENDENTS:
Strongly approve: 21%
Somewhat approve: 23%
Somewhat disapprove: 10%
Strongly disapprove: 17%

RON’S COMMENT: Democrats overwhelmingly express some degree of approval for the Harris selection. However, independents––who are often swing voters in elections––are not so sure. A total of 44% of them approve of her pick and a large segment, 28%, have no opinion yet…. In addition: 79% of all Blacks say the Harris VP selection makes them feel “proud,” compared to 53% of all Hispanics and 50% of all women…. Despite an initially favorable reaction to Biden’s pick, it’s still an open question whether Harris will help the ticket.

SENATE ELECTIONS

Among voters in each state

MISSISSIPPI
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) over Mike Espy (D): +5 (47-42-3)

RON’S COMMENT: Democrat Espy’s campaign has released a Garin-Hart-Yang poll that shows Republican incumbent Hyde-Smith ahead by only 5 points. In retaliation, Hyde-Smith’s campaign then released a Tarrance Group poll which shows her leading by a much wider 20 points. The Democratic poll was conducted more recently, July 30-August 9, while the Republican poll was conducted June 22-25…. Did the race change that much in a month and a half? Or is one of these partisan polls just wrong?…. Let’s wait for the next round…. In 2018, Hyde-Smith defeated Espy, a former congressman and Agriculture secretary, by nearly 8 points in a special election runoff…. Handicappers rate the race safe Republican.

NORTH CAROLINA
Cal Cunningham (D) over Sen. Thom Tillis (R): +3 (41-38)

COMMENT: Yesterday, we reported two polls showing Democrat Cunningham leading, on average, by 3.5 points. This Republican-affiliated poll confirms that finding. Handicappers rate the race a tossup.

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS

Among voters in each state

NORTH CAROLINA
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) over Dan Forest (R): +10 (49-39)

COMMENT: Yesterday, we had a poll showing Cooper ahead by 6 points. Today’s poll shows a bigger margin. Handicappers rate the race lean or likely Democratic.

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