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The US President has been under fierce attack this week after his decision to deploy the National Guard to deal with protesters after some of them became violent.

But according to an exclusive poll carried out by the Democracy Institute in America, President Trump is still one point ahead of his Democrat rival, the former Vice President Joe Biden by 48 percent to 47 percent with 5 percent undecided.

Crucially though Mr Trump is six points ahead in the swing states of Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by 50 percent to 44 percent.

Based on these results the President would see off his rival in the electoral college by 293 votes to 245 with Trump picking up Minnesota where George Floyd was killed and the Democrat stronghold of New Hampshire but losing Michigan and Wisconsin.

In a week where he has faced intense scrutiny and criticism the shock poll suggests that voters in the US approve of the way he has handled the crisis by 56 percent to 40 percent.

In a week where violent protests have damaged many people’s businesses, property and lives, Trump’s decision to call Antifa protest group “terrorists” got a 56 percent approval rating while the same number think Biden has not been strong enough in condemning violence.

Given a choice, 63 percent want law and order prioritised while only 32 percent want relations with black Americans and the police prioritised.

And with Democrat administrations in US states and cities threatening to defund the police, 73 percent said they were opposed to the move.

A White House source told the Sunday Express that public criticism of the President had been unfair and he wanted to see justice for George Floyd.

The source said: “There is no one who supported the policeman’s actions. No one. There is no one defending it. So the protestors have no one to be against. Peaceful protest is always welcome. The looting and devastation is not. By any community. But I’m not sure who they are protesting against since no one is on the other side of this argument.”

However, the President does not score well on his handling of coronavirus with 44 percent disapproval to 40 percent approval after he pushed for a quick ending of lockdown measures.

However, 60 percent said he was not indirectly responsible for 100,000 coronavirus deaths in America.

The projected election victory comes despite a negative rating on how well he is leading the country with 49 percent approving to 51 percent disapproving.

The racial split in his support shows that 59 percent of white voters back him but surprisingly he also has the support of 40 percent of black voters which is historically high for a Republican candidate.

The President is also more attractive to older voters with 51 percent of 65+ year-olds and 57 perent of 45 to 64 year-olds but only 40 percent of 18 to 29 year olds.

Trump’s voters are more loyal with 74 per ent describing themselves as strong supporters while only 49 percent of Biden’s potential voters describe themselves as strong supporters and 65 percent admit he is a “negative vote” to stop Trump.

However, only 37 percent of Trump voters would want their friends and family to know how they had voted while 74 percent of Biden supporters are comfortable with it being known, suggesting there is a “silent vote” for the President.

While 71 percent describe Trump as a strong leader and 70 percent a populist, 59 percent think Biden is the best consensus leader and 57 percent say he is the establishment politician.

But while 62 percent say Biden is the more likeable politician and would be better to have a beer with, 53 percent think he is too old.

Notably 27 percent would not want either politician to babysit their children.

Democracy Institute/ Sunday Express poll

Should government prioritise law & order on city streets or prioritise improving relations between Black Americans and the police?

• Law & order = 63% 

• Improving relations between Black Americans & police = 32%

Do you support de-funding your local police department?

• Yes = 14% 

• No = 73%

Will Trump or Biden do a better job of standing up to China?

• Trump = 59%

• Biden = 37%

Will there be a significant economic recovery this year?

• Yes = 62%

• No = 38%

• Don’t Know = 13%

UK Theme

Is the UK this country’s most reliable ally?

• Yes = 58%

• No = 30%

• Don’t Know = 12%

What is your opinion of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson?

• Favourable = 51%

• Unfavourable = 30%

• Don’t Know = 19%

Will Brexit be good or bad for the UK?

• Good = 43%

• Bad = 33% 

• Don’t Know = 24%

Would a UK-US trade deal be a good or a bad idea?

• Good = 55%

• Bad = 33%

• Don’t Know = 12%

Poll Methodology

The fieldwork for this survey of a randomly selected national telephone (landline and cell) sample of 1,500 likely voters was conducted by the Democracy Institute’s polling unit from June 3rd to June 5th 2020. The survey was conducted via interactive voice response, in which recorded questions were played for randomly-dialled respondents and answers were given via their telephone keypads. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. To ensure a representative sample, the results were weighted for key demographic and political variables including, but not limited to, party identification, gender, age, education, income, region, voting history, and cell phone-only households. The party identification turnout model is: Democrats = 38 percent; Republicans = 38 percent; and Independents = 24 percent.

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