Georgia Voters Give Trump Edge Over Harris on ‘Preserving Democracy’

Former President Donald Trump is leading Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia, a key battleground state, with a majority of voters believing he would do a better job handling the issue of “preserving democracy” in the United States, according to a newly released poll.

A Quinnipiac University poll of 1,328 likely voters conducted between October 10 and 14, shows Trump leading Harris on most key issues, including the economy, immigration, “preserving democracy,” and managing emergencies and crises—abortion being the only exception, with Harris leading on that.

In the survey, when voters were asked “Who do you think would do a better job – preserving democracy in the United States?” a majority chose the former president, with 51 percent believing Trump would do a better job and 46 percent supporting Harris.

Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on electoral processes, and has said the 2020 presidential election was stolen, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud. He has been indicted by special counsel Jack Smith on four counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results leading up to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights in connection with an alleged pressure campaign on state officials to reverse the 2020 election results. The case, overseen by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, is currently in process.

Separately, in August 2023 Trump and 18 other associates were indicted on racketeering charges in the state related to overturning his 2020 election loss there. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both lawsuits and claims they are part of a political witch hunt.

On individual issues, the Quinnipiac poll found Trump’s largest lead in the state is on immigration, with 57 percent of likely voters backing his platform and 41 percent supporting Harris’. The only issue Harris leads on in the state is abortion, garnering 50 percent support compared to Trump’s 44 percent.

Overall, the poll found Trump to have a 7-percentage point lead in the state—which boasts 16 Electoral College votes—with 52 percent of respondents supporting him compared to 45 percent for Harris. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

Compared to previous Quinnipiac University polls, Trump has expanded his lead. A September poll showed him with 49 percent of the vote, an early October poll had him at 50 percent, and now he stands at 52 percent. Harris, meanwhile, has remained relatively consistent around 45 percent, dipping to 44 percent in the early October poll.

The poll also found Trump to be viewed more favorably than Harris in the state, with 51 percent of respondents holding a favorable view of Trump and 51 percent holding an unfavorable view of Harris.

Aggregate state polls, which fluctuate based on new polling data, show a closer match up, with RealClearPolitics showing Trump leading by less than 1 percent, The New York Times’ aggregate finding Trump ahead, 49 percent to Harris’ 48 percent, and The Hill showing Harris in the lead, 49.7 percent to Trump’s 46.9 percent.

In 2020, President Joe Biden narrowly won the state by around 12,000 votes. Trump previously won the battleground state in 2016. Georgia is crucial in the presidential election, as the last time a presidential candidate won the White House without the Peach State was in 2012, when Mitt Romney carried Georgia but lost the presidency to Barack Obama.

About 328,000 voters have already cast their ballots in Georgia, according to Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer for Georgia’s secretary of state. That figure is more than double the previous record of 136,000, which was set in 2020—when Joe Biden became the first Democrat to carry the state since 1992.