LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Georgia Senate Update – Handling the Transition – Latest National Vote Count

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, November 19, 2020

CURRENT VOTE TALLY
2020 presidential election

Joe Biden: 79.5 million (51%)
Donald Trump: 73.6 million (47.2%) 
Biden’s vote margin over Trump: 5.9 million
Biden’s % margin over Trump: 3.8 points

GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS
Among voters statewide

Special Election
Raphael Warnock (D) over Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R): +1 (49-48)
 
Regular Election
Sen. David Perdue (R) and Jon Ossoff (D): even (49-49)
 
RON’S COMMENT: This poll shows highly competitive battles for both January Senate runoffs…. Said pollster Matt Towery, who conducted the survey: “At this time I would say that the Republican candidates might both be slight underdogs as of now. That will come as a shock to people who have not followed the shift in demographics and voting patterns in Georgia. Either race can be won by either party’s nominee.” ….This poll also also finds that Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s job rating is net negative: 37% approve, 44% disapprove.

SHOULD TRUMP CONCEDE?
Among voters statewide

Do you think Donald Trump should concede the election, or not? 
 
He should concede: 60%
He should NOT concede: 40%
 
RON’S COMMENT: 95% of Biden’s voters and 21% of Trump’s voters say he should concede…. This poll also finds that 62% of voters believe Trump should start the transition.

HANDLING THE TRANSITION
Among voters nationwide

Rating of Joe Biden’s handling of the transition:
 
All voters
Approve: 60%
Disapprove: 28%
 
Democrats
Approve: 91%
Disapprove: 5%
 
Republicans
Approve: 28%
Disapprove: 59%
 
Independents
Approve: 53%
Disapprove: 29%
 
RON’S COMMENT: Biden is getting good marks from voters on the transition. Though he received 51% of the votes cast in the election, a more robust 60% approve of his handling of the transition so far. Nearly three out of 10 Republicans––who overwhelmingly voted against the Democrat for president––now give him good marks for his work since then…. This poll also finds that pandemic-related issues rank one, two, and three, topping all possible Biden initiatives in terms of importance for his first 100 days.
 
What voters say about President Trump and the transition:
 
All voters
Trump is not doing enough to help with the transition: 54%
Trump is doing the right amount to help with the transition: 21%
Trump is doing too much to help with the transition: 7%
 
Democrats
Trump is not doing enough to help with the transition: 72%
Trump is doing the right amount to help with the transition: 11%
Trump is doing too much to help with the transition: 5%
 
Republicans
Trump is not doing enough to help with the transition: 23%
Trump is doing the right amount to help with the transition: 37%
Trump is doing too much to help with the transition: 12%
 
RON’S COMMENT: Fewer than four in 10 Republicans think Trump is doing the right amount to help with the transition.

SOURCES
GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS: Fox 5/InsiderAdvantage, Nov. 16
SHOULD TRUMP CONCEDE? The Economist/YouGov, Nov. 15-17
HANDLING THE TRANSITION: Morning Consult, Nov. 13-16

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