KEY POINTS

  • A new poll indicates Trump is ahead of Biden by four points among likely voters in Florida
  • In Arizona, the poll also showed a tight race as Trump leads Biden among likely voters
  • The survey also shows registered voters in Florida and Arizona trust Trump to handle the economy over Biden

A new poll shows President Donald Trump narrowly leading Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden among likely voters in battleground states Florida and Arizona with less than six weeks until the Nov. 3 election.

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll reveals registered Florida voters are almost evenly split on who they would vote for president, with 48% preferring Biden and 47% for Trump. However, Trump is ahead by four points among those most likely to vote, 51%-47%.

The battle for the presidency is also tight in Arizona as Biden leads Trump among registered voters 49%-47%. However, Biden trails his Republican opponent among likely voters 49%-48%.

Trump’s economic argument stands out as the key to his recent gains. Registered voters in Florida say they trust the president over his Democratic challenger to handle the economy by 11 percentage points. In Arizona, 56% prefer Trump to handle the economy to 41% saying they trust Biden.

The president is also four points ahead of Biden on issues relating to crime and safety in Florida and Arizona. However, he trails the former vice president on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, discouraging violence at protests, health care, and equal treatment of racial groups.

The ABC News/Washington Post poll is one of two major polls in Arizona since July that show Trump leading, The Hill reported. Other surveys, such as those from RealClearPolitics and New York Times-Siena College, suggested that Biden is ahead by 4.1 points and 9 points, respectively.

Trump carried Arizona by 3.5 points during the 2016 presidential election. The state has only been carried by a Democratic presidential nominee once in the past 50 years. Former President Bill Clinton won Arizona in 1996.

According to Forbes, Democrats have become increasingly concerned about Biden’s chances in Florida, which Trump carried by 1.2 points in 2016 even after polls showed him struggling to gain a foothold among Latino voters living in the Sunshine State.

US President Donald Trump (L) has for months tried to persuade voters that Democratic opponent Joe Biden is suffering from mental decline
US President Donald Trump (L) has for months tried to persuade voters that Democratic opponent Joe Biden is suffering from mental decline AFP / MANDEL NGAN