Today’s 2020 Election Polls: Biden, Cunningham Maintain Leads In Battleground North Carolina

Topline

Polls out Tuesday show Joe Biden and Democratic Senate candidate Cal Cunningham holding modest leads in battleground North Carolina, even as Republicans pummel Cunningham with ads following revelations about an affair.

Key Facts

Big Number

17. That’s Biden’s lead nationally, according to a survey published by Opinium and The Guardian (57%-40%.) The result is at least the seventh national poll to show Biden up by double digits this month.

Key Background

Biden leads by 2.7 points on average in polls in North Carolina, a state that went to Trump by 3.6 points in 2016. 

Tangent

Last week, an article on NationalFile.com surfaced revealing alleged sexts between Cunningham and Arlene Guzman Todd of California, which the Associated Press subsequently confirmed. Cunningham has admitted to sending romantic messages to a woman who is not his wife and has apologized. “I have hurt my family, disappointed my friends, and am deeply sorry,” told CNN. “The first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility, which I do. I ask that my family’s privacy be respected in this personal matter.”

Surprising Fact

A SurveyUSA poll released Monday also showed Cunningham ahead of Tillis by 10 points (49%-39%). The survey showed Cunningham losing support among women and seniors since the sexting scandal broke, but gaining support among men and young voters, according to Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight. 

Further Reading

The sex scandal that could keep the Senate in McConnell’s hands (Politico)

‘I am deeply sorry’: Cunningham apologizes for ‘hurt’ he caused after affair claims (News & Observer)