RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — New polling shows former President Donald Trump is beating President Joe Biden in Virginia.
The latest Emerson College poll, sponsored by WRIC’s parent company Nexstar, found that 45% of registered voters in Virginia are backing Trump, with Biden garnering 43% of the vote.
For context, Joe Biden beat Trump by ten points in Virginia in 2020.
“The fact that Joe Biden could go from a ten-point victory in 2020 to being behind a couple of points, whether it’s a dead heat or not, tells you all you need to know,” said Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
The same poll found that just 29% of those surveyed felt the county was headed in the right direction, with voters citing the economy as the most important issue affecting Virginia.
“People are upset about a group of things and they only have to have one to vote against the incumbent,” Sabato said. “But, look — mainly, it’s Biden’s age.”
Also of concern for Biden is that Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is outrunning him by five points in his race against Republican Hung Cao.
“In most of the competitive states, for Senate contests, the Democratic nominee for Senator is running way ahead of Biden,” Sabato said. “It tells you there is one central problem, and his name is Joe Biden.”
Despite Biden appearing to lose support in Virginia and some Democrats calling for him to step aside, Harris didn’t fair much better in a hypothetical matchup with Trump in Virginia. Harris garnered support from nearly 45% of voters compared to Trump’s 47%.
“She is inextricably bound to Joe Biden,” Sabato said. “She is a part of the administration. I wouldn’t expect her to do a whole lot better than Biden, though she is younger and more vigorous. That should restore a couple of points.”
It’s important to note that the poll was conducted from July 13 to 15. Sabato said that means it’s likely a majority of the respondents were interviewed after Trump was shot in an assassination attempt on July 13.