Trump tops Biden by 2 points among registered voters in new survey

Former President Trump is leading President Biden by 2 points among registered voters, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The New York Times/Siena poll also found that among likely voters, Biden takes the lead by an identical margin.

The mixed result is emblematic of a tight 2024 race, with the GOP primary is set to begin in just a few weeks.

Overall, 46 percent of all respondents sided with Trump and 44 percent with Biden, while 9 percent were still undecided. 

Asked for an immediate decision, 39 percent of respondents sided with Biden, a mark that continues a decline. The president’s support in that category has fallen in nearly every consecutive Times/Siena poll since July. 

Biden’s “if you had to decide today” support topped out at 45 percent in September, but fell to 42 percent the next month and now rests at 39 percent. Trump, meanwhile, has seen little change in that result, falling slightly from 43 percent to 41 percent this month.

Respondents said the economy (20 percent), inflation (11 percent) and immigration (10 percent) were the most important issues to them, highlighting GOP campaign trail emphasis in attacks on the president.

The issues of abortion rights and climate, where Democrats have largely focused their campaigning, are the most important issue to less than 1 percent and 2 percent of respondents, respectively, according to the poll.

Biden also has a low approval rating in the poll, with a net 11 percent disapproval. Trump shares a similarly low favorability, net 8 percent unfavorable, but carries a larger group of strong supporters.

The Times/Siena poll falls in line with The Hill/Decision Desk HQ national polling averages, where Trump holds a 2 percent lead on the incumbent president. 

The Times/Siena poll surveyed about 1,000 voters from Dec. 10-14 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.