A recent Emerson College poll reveals a trend among supporters of former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley: They are more inclined to vote for President Joe Biden in the upcoming election than for former President Donald Trump, The Hill reported.
The poll, released Thursday, indicates that 63% of Haley supporters are backing Biden following her withdrawal from the GOP primary, while only 27% intend to vote for Trump and 10% are undecided.
In response to Haley's exit from the race, Biden extended a welcoming hand to her supporters, contrasting sharply with Trump's stance.
"Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley's supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign," Biden said in a campaign statement.
In her suspension speech, Haley emphasized that Trump must "earn" the votes of her supporters and refrained from endorsing him.
"It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, and I hope he does that," she said. "At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away."
The Emerson survey also revealed that 52% of Haley supporters had voted for Biden in 2020. Currently, Trump and Biden are tied nationally with 45% support each, according to the poll. However, when undecided voters were compelled to choose, Biden secured a slight lead of 51% to 49%.
Including third-party candidates, particularly independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump held a narrow lead over Biden by one point.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, emphasized the volatility of the race, stating, "This race is well within the poll's margin of error and could move in either direction."
The poll also shed light on voters' priorities, with the economy ranking as the most important issue for 29% of respondents, followed by immigration at 20% and threats to democracy at 14%. Biden's job approval rating stands at 41%, with 48% of respondents expressing disapproval.
The survey of 1,350 registered voters across the nation, conducted March 5-6, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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