PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Among general election voters

Nationwide Popular Vote

(Reuters) Biden +9 (50-41)
(Rasmussen) Trump +1 (50-41)
Average of last four polls: Biden +5.8

RON’S COMMENT: Rasmussen often shows Trump doing better than other polls and Reuters polling often shows Trump doing worse than other polls. This is why we average polls––and why you should never get too excited or depressed by any one poll in a presidential race.

In the States

States Trump carried in 2016: 
NORTH CAROLINA (USA Today): Biden +3
ARIZONA (Monmouth): Biden +2
KENTUCKY (Quinnipiac): Trump +20
SOUTH CAROLINA (Quinnipiac): Trump +6
UTAH (USA Today): Trump +18

States Clinton carried in 2016: 
MAINE (Quinnipiac): Biden +21
CALIFORNIA (PPIC): Biden +29

RON’S COMMENT: This new polling has Biden leading North Carolina and Arizona, but the race remains tight in both states. The average of the last four polls in North Carolina shows Biden ahead by 1 point and the average of the last four polls from Arizona has Biden ahead by 4.3 points. Also:

• Trump carried Kentucky in 2016 by 30 points and South Carolina by 14 points. He leads both states, but the numbers are closer now.
• Trump won Utah in 2016 by 18 points in a three-way race. This poll gives him the same lead.
• Trump lost California by 30 points in 2016. This poll shows him with a similar deficit.
• This Maine poll has Biden surprisingly far ahead; he also leads both of the state’s Congressional districts. Keep in mind: Quinnipiac polls often show Democrats doing better than other polls.

SENATE ELECTIONS

Among voters in each state

KENTUCKY
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) over Amy McGrath (R): +12 (53-41)

COMMENT: Handicappers rate this Senate race safe or likely Republican.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) and Jaime Harrison (D): even (48-48)

COMMENT: Most observers expect Graham to win re-election, although polls have been showing a close race. This poll indicates that Graham’s problem is less partisan than it is personal:

• Graham’s personal rating is 44% favorable/49% unfavorable.
• Harrison’s personal rating is 47% favorable/34% unfavorable.
• By a margin of 49-40, voters say Graham is not honest. By a margin of 48-24, voters say that Harrison is honest.
• By a margin of 55-25, voters say Harrison cares about average people. By a margin of 48-45, voters say that Graham does not care about average people. 
• But: Voters by a 52 – 44 margin want to see the Republican Party win control of the Senate.
• Handicappers rate the race likely or lean Democratic.

MAINE
Sara Gideon (D) over Sen. Susan Collins (R): +12 (54-42)

RON’S COMMENT: This is by far the biggest lead we’ve seen for Gideon. Quinnipiac polls often show Democrats doing better than other polls. Nonetheless, the last four pols put Gideon ahead by an average of 6.5 points, a clear lead…. Handicappers rate the contest tossup.

NORTH CAROLINA
Cal Cunningham (D) over Sen. Thom Tillis (R): +4 (42-38)

COMMENT: The average of the last four polls has Cunningham ahead by 3.3 points…. Handicappers rate this race a tossup.

ARIZONA
Mark Kelly (D) over Sen. Martha McSally (R): +4 (50-46)

RON’S COMMENT: The average of the last four polls has Kelly ahead by 6.5 points…. Handicappers rate the contest tilt or lean Democratic.

VOTING METHOD

Among voters nationwide

How do you plan on voting in 2020? 

In person on election day: 35%
In person before the election (early voting): 21%
By mail: 42%

RON’S COMMENT: 52% of Trump’s voters will vote in person on election day versus 22% of Biden’s supporters. 56% of Biden’s voters will vote by mail versus 25% of Trump’s voters. Also: 22% of Biden’s voters and 21% of Trump’s voters will in person (early) before the election.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Among voters nationwide

Do you favor the death penalty for murder? 

Yes, always: 17%
Yes, sometimes, depending on the circumstances: 55%
No, the death penalty is wrong: 22%
Don’t know: 6%

RON’S COMMENT: 60% of Biden supporters and 89% of Trump supporters support the death penalty for murder “always” or “sometimes.” The groups with the largest percentages saying they never support the death penalty are those with postgraduate degrees (34%) and Biden supporters (35%).

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