If the United States presidential election were held today, Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden would win by a landslide over Donald Trump.
The latest poll from CNN conducted by SSRS finds Trump's approval rating plunging 7 points in May as Trump falls further behind Biden. On the other hand, Biden's support among American voters is now at its highest-ever level in CNN polling.
The poll shows 57% of Americans disapprove of the way Trump's handling the presidency as against only 38% that approve. CNN said this is Trump's worst approval rating since January 2019. It pointed out this approval rating is about the same as that for Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush at this point in their reelection years. Both failed in their re-election bid.
Among registered voters, Biden leads Trump, 55% to 41%, when asked who they'd vote for as president. Biden's 55% support is his highest mark yet in CNN's tracking of this question extending back to April 2019. On the other hand, Trump's 41% voter support is his lowest ever in the CNN poll.
The dismaying results confirming rising voter anger against Trump follows condemnation of him by five more former and active-duty generals of the U.S. Armed Forces. In all, there are more than 10 senior officers of the U.S. military that have made public their opposition to Trump and his policies.
Racism is now a huge issue among voters as a direct result of George Floyd's murder on May 25 and the daily protests over his death and police brutality that rage to this day. American voters overwhelmingly say Biden will be far better than Trump in healing the wounds of racial tensions. Voters view Trump increasingly as a racist. The CNN poll showed 42% saying race relations are extremely important to their vote for president. This formerly neglected issue now stands at par with the economy and health care near the top of campaign issues.
The poll shows voters saying Biden has the advantage over Trump in handling race relations. A full 63% say they feel Biden will do a better job on the issue. Only 31% chose Trump. Biden's edge on this issue among black voters -- his core constituency -- is massive.
Fully 91% of black voters say Biden will do a better job on handline race relations. A minuscule 4% chose Trump.
Biden also outpaces Trump overall on handling the COVID-19 pandemic (55% to 41%), and on leading the nation in times of crisis (55% to 41%).
Trump is slightly ahead of Biden as more trusted to handle the economy: 51% to 46%.
Biden also leads Trump in most of the 13 so-called battleground states that will likely determine the outcome of the 2020 election. These states are: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Recent polling in these 13 states "shows a consistent advantage" for Biden over Trump," said Alan Abramowitz, the Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political, Science at Emory University. Abramowitz also said Biden leads Trump in all 13 states.
