Trump pulls ahead of Biden in head-to-head matchup: National survey

Former President Trump has a four-point lead over President Biden nationally, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey, published Wednesday, found that Trump garnered 49 percent support to Biden’s 45 percent. That’s a significant improvement for the former president over last month’s survey, which found Biden with a single point lead.

With third-party candidates included, Trump’s lead slightly expands to six points. Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pulled 11 percent support nationally, the poll found. 

“The political heat rises in this steamy American summer of discord. Trump holds a narrow lead in the head-to-head matchup and is in a slightly better position when all the candidates are included,” Quinnipiac pollster Tim Malloy said in a statement.

All eyes are on the first presidential debate Thursday night in Atlanta. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they plan on watching, and about 16 percent said the outcome of the debate could change their vote.

That includes 13 percent of Biden supporters, 12 percent of Trump supporters and a sizable 32 percent of those who back Kennedy, per the survey.

“A change of heart or a dramatic shift in loyalty when the lights fade on the first debate? Not likely when it comes to Biden and Trump supporters, but those currently supporting RFK, Jr. are a different story,” Malloy added.

The presidential race remains neck-and-neck overall. Trump has a 1.2 percent lead over Biden in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of national polls.

The Quinnipiac survey polled about 1,600 adults between June 20-24 and has a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.