WASHINGTON: Former US president Donald Trump holds notable leads over President Joe Biden in five of the six battleground states, shows a New York Times-Siena College poll released on Sunday.

In US politics, the term battleground refers to a state where the electoral outcome can swing either way, making it fiercely contested between political parties during presidential elections.

These states play a significant role in the Electoral College system, where the candidate who secures a majority of electoral votes becomes the president.

The poll — conducted across six battleground states — reveals a significant shift in voter preferences compared to the 2020 election results.

The states where Trump has gained leads over Biden are Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The only state where Biden maintains a slim lead is Wisconsin. Biden had defeated Trump in all six states during the 2020 election.

In Nevada, a state Biden narrowly carried in the 2020, Trump boasts 52pc support to Biden’s 41pc. Trump also tops Biden in Georgia, a state that was central to his ploy to overturn the last presidential election, with 49pc to Biden’s 43pc.

In Arizona, Trump leads with 49pc to Biden’s 44pc. In Michigan, Trump holds a 5-point lead: 48pc to Biden’s 43pc. Trump also has a 4-point lead in Pennsylvania.

Biden’s sole lead is in Wisconsin, where he beats Trump by two points. Trump remains a frontrunner among Republicans, while Biden, despite facing challenges like low job approval ratings, questions about his age, and concerns about his ability to lead, still insists on contesting the 2024 presidential election.

The polls show a general sense of discontent among voters in these battleground states, with low job approval ratings for Biden and a lukewarm favorability rating for both him and Trump. While Trump leads in trust on handling certain issues like the economy, immigration, and national security, Biden garners more trust in handling topics like abortion, with a split opinion on handling democracy. Some voters expressed disappointment in Biden’s leadership, citing concerns about the world “falling apart” under Biden’s administration – a reference to wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The results suggest a potentially close race in the 2024 elections whose outcome could profoundly impact America’s future domestic and foreign policies. Although Trump faces multiple legal challenges, his base of support remains steadfast. He’s chosen to skip Republican primary debates and instead focuses on critiquing Biden’s record.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2023