By Jason Lange
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden maintained a lead over President Donald Trump in Michigan and the two candidates remained statistically tied in North Carolina, Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls showed on Tuesday.
Reuters/Ipsos is polling likely voters in six states – Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona – that will play critical roles in deciding whether Trump wins a second term in office or if Biden ousts him.
Below is a state-by-state look at Reuters/Ipsos findings, based on the online responses of likely voters, which include responses from some who cast ballots ahead of the formal Nov. 3 Election Day, which is increasingly common due to the coronavirus pandemic:
MICHIGAN (Oct. 14 – Oct. 20):
* Voting for Biden: 51%
* Voting for Trump: 44%
* Biden was up 51%-43% the prior week.
* 28% said they already had voted.
* 52% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 40% said Trump would be better.
* 48% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better.
NORTH CAROLINA (Oct. 14 – Oct. 20):
* Voting for Biden: 49%
* Voting for Trump: 46%
* Since the margin is within the poll’s credibility interval, the race is statistically tied, as it was in the prior poll when Biden had 48% to Trump’s 47%.
* 18% said they already had voted.
* 49% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 45% said Trump would be better.
* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 43% said Biden would be better.
PENNSYLVANIA (Oct. 13 – Oct. 19):
* Voting for Biden: 49%
* Voting for Trump: 45%
* Biden’s apparent lead, which is on the edge of the survey’s credibility interval, compared with a 51%-44% lead in the prior week.
* 15% said they already had voted.
* 49% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better.
* 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 42% said Biden would be better.
WISCONSIN (Oct. 13 – Oct. 19):
* Voting for Biden: 51%
* Voting for Trump: 43%
* Biden up a point from 51%-44% lead in prior week.
* 24% said they already had voted.
* 52% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 38% said Trump would be better.
* 47% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better.
FLORIDA (Oct. 7 – Oct. 14):
* Voting for Biden: 49%
* Voting for Trump: 47%
* Prior poll showed Biden with a 49%-45% lead that was on the edge of the survey’s credibility interval.
* 17% said they already had voted.
* 49% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better.
* 49% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better.
ARIZONA (Oct. 7 – Oct. 14):
* Voting for Biden: 50%
* Voting for Trump: 46%
* Prior poll showed the two essentially even with Biden at 48% and Trump at 46%.
* 50% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 41% said Trump would be better.
* 49% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better.
* 10% said they already had voted.
NOTES
The Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls are conducted online in all six states in English, as well as in Spanish in Arizona and Florida.
* In Michigan, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, it gathered responses from 1,001 adults, including 686 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
* In North Carolina, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20, it gathered responses from 1,001 adults, including 660 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
* In Wisconsin, from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19, it gathered responses from 1,001 adults, including 663 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
* In Pennsylvania, from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19, it gathered responses from 1,001 adults, including 653 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
* In Florida, from Oct. 7 to Oct. 14, it gathered responses from 1,000 adults, including 653 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
* In Arizona, from Oct. 7 to Oct. 14, it gathered responses from 998 adults, including 667 likely voters, and had a credibility interval of 4 percentage points.
(Reporting by Jason Lange; Additional reporting by Chris Kahn; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)
