As Super Tuesday approaches, voters are comparing the presidencies of former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden, with Trump currently leading in the polls by four points nationally. This is largely due to voters recalling the economy under Trump more fondly than they rate the economy under Biden. Despite views of today’s economy improving, it is not enough to boost Biden’s ratings compared to Trump. Biden’s policies are expected to cause price increases, while Republicans overwhelmingly believe that lower prices would result if Trump were elected.
One reason for Biden’s polling deficits is that his own Democratic base is more critical of him than Republicans were of Trump. More voters believe that Trump fights for people like them and has a vision for the country, which gives him an advantage over Biden. Arguments made by the Biden campaign regarding Trump’s potential liabilities have not gained enough traction to surpass Trump in the polls. Additionally, most Americans believe that Trump tried to stay in office past his term, with just under half thinking he did so illegally.
While the overturning of Roe v. Wade is viewed negatively by the majority of voters, fewer blame Trump for it. There is strong support for legalizing IVF among voters. Trump holds a significant advantage over Biden on the issue of reducing the number of migrants crossing the border, which remains a top concern for many voters. Trump is also perceived to have better physical and cognitive health to serve as president compared to Biden.
Voters and party bases have different motivations for supporting their candidates. Many Biden voters feel that this election is about fear of what might happen, with more voting to oppose Trump rather than support Biden. In contrast, Trump voters see this election as one about hope for the future, with more voting for Trump because they like him rather than opposing Biden. Currently, Biden is trailing in the polls, in part because Democrats are less likely to say they will definitely vote.
The CBS News/YouGov survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,159 U.S. adult residents sheds light on the current sentiments of voters leading up to Super Tuesday. Anthony Salvanto, CBS News’ director of elections and surveys, oversees polling across the nation and provides insights into the factors influencing voter preferences in the upcoming election. As the campaign progresses, the comparisons between Trump and Biden’s presidencies will continue to shape voter perceptions and preferences.
