What are Trump and Biden’s biggest weaknesses? Poll reveals what Americans think
What are the biggest vulnerabilities facing President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump? For one, the trials of age, and the other, the age of trials, new polling reveals.
Respondents in an NBC News poll conducted between April 12 and 16 were presented with three potential weaknesses for both candidates.
They were then asked which option could most convincingly make them vote against each candidate.
Nearly one-quarter of respondents, 23%, said the idea that Biden “may not have the necessary mental and physical health to be president for a second term” was his most salient vulnerability.
A smaller percentage, 17%, said rampant illegal immigration during Biden’s first term was his most convincing weakness.
Meanwhile, 16% said the record-high inflation during Biden’s presidency was most likely to make them cast their ballots against him.
A plurality of respondents, 28%, selected “none of these,” while 15% said “all of these” options.
When asked about Trump, 20% of respondents said his various criminal and civil trials — including charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election — were most likely to cost him their votes.
Meanwhile, 14% of respondents said the fact that Trump “takes credit for his Supreme Court nominees taking away a woman’s right to an abortion” was his most convincing weakness.
Eight percent said Trump’s desire to pardon individuals convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was his biggest vulnerability.
A plurality of respondents, 40%, said “none of these,” and 17% said “all of these” options.
The survey sampled 1,000 registered voters nationwide and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
Previous polls conducted over the past year have shown similar results.
A small minority of voters believe Biden has the mental and physical capacity to serve as president, according to an April 24 poll from the Pew Research Center. A larger number believe Trump has these capacities.
A Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll released in January found that a majority of voters in seven swing states would be unwilling to vote for Trump if he is convicted in one of his trials.
This story was originally published April 26, 2024 at 12:21 PM with the headline "What are Trump and Biden’s biggest weaknesses? Poll reveals what Americans think."