A new poll shows President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in a dead heat going into next week's first debate of the 2024 election.
Overall, the poll by NPR/PBS News/Marist National shows Biden and Trump tied at 49% among registered voters, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate.
Trump gains 1% if the survey is limited to respondents who say they are definitely voting in the November election.
"Although the topline results remain largely the same, there are interesting developments under the hood," Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College’s Institute for Public Opinion, said in a statement. "Since Trump's guilty verdict in the New York hush money trial, some familiar electoral patterns have re-emerged. Biden's standing has improved among independent and non-white voters, and Trump has secured greater support among white voters."
According to the poll, Biden (50%) has made inroads against Trump (48%) among independents. Biden (42%) previously trailed Trump (54%) among this voting group. However, Trump (48%) has the edge against Biden (41%) among those who have an unfavorable opinion of both candidates.
Among white voters, the poll shows Trump (55%) is +12 percentage points over Biden (43%), doubling the six-percentage point edge he held in May. Among non-white voters, Biden (58%) leads Trump (40%) by 18 percentage points, widening his previous 11-percentage point advantage among this group.
Biden (50%) and Trump (50%) are also tied among voters under the age of 45, while Trump (49%) is +1 percentage point over Biden (48%) among voters 45 or older, according to the poll.
On the candidate who would better handle important issues facing the nation, the poll shows:
• A majority of Americans say Trump (54%), rather than Biden (45%), would better tackle the economy.
• Trump (54%) is also viewed as stronger than Biden (44%) on the issue of immigration.
• A majority think Biden (54%), not Trump (42%), would better handle the abortion issue.
• Biden (52%) bests Trump (46%) on who would better deal with preserving democracy.
• Americans divide about whether Trump (50%) or Biden (49%) would better handle the United States’ role on the world stage.
• Biden (50%) also edges Trump (46%) on the question of which candidate cares more about the average person.
The poll shows a majority of Americans (53%) have an unfavorable opinion of Biden while 41% have a favorable one. Like Biden, Trump's favorable rating is underwater: a majority of Americans (53%) have a negative impression of him, and 42% have a positive view.
Taking all that into account, more than half of Americans (55%) are not satisfied with the major party candidates for president, according to the poll. While two in three Americans (66%) have decided on the candidate for whom they plan to vote, one in four (25%) has a good idea of their choice but could change their mind, and 9% have not made up their mind.