Today’s 2020 Election Polls: Biden Jumps Out To 7 Point Lead In Georgia, But It’s An Outlier

Topline

Polls out Wednesday show Joe Biden with a lead in several states that could help him run up his total votes in the Electoral College, including Georgia, a state that hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992.

Key Facts

Key Background

Biden could win the White House by flipping Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and holding states Hillary Clinton won in 2016. However, Biden’s strong polling numbers in several Sun Belt states have led Democrats to look to expand the map. The Cook Political Report currently ranks Arizona as “lean Democrat,” and Florida, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina and Ohio as “toss-ups” (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are all rated “lean Democrat.”)

Tangent

Polls also found Democrats faring well in several Senate races in Georgia and North Carolina. Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff leads Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) by 6 points (51%-45%) and Democrat Raphael Warnock leads Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) in a crowded runoff in Georgia’s other Senate election (41%-20%-22%, respectively), according to Quinnipiac’s survey. Cal Cunningham, the Democrat challenging Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), is currently leading by 4 points in the Times’ survey (41%-37%.)  

Crucial Quote

Nate Cohn, a polling expert at the New York Times, said he is skeptical about Biden’s strength in southern states because he feels pollsters may be overestimating the Democratic nominee’s performance with white voters. 

 Further Reading

Today’s 2020 Election Polls: Biden Is In A Much Stronger Polling Position Than Hillary (Forbes)

Today’s 2020 Election Polls: Warning Signs Flash For Peters In Michigan Senate Race (Forbes)