States of play: Joe holds on to lead
THE late shift towards Donald Trump that his campaign team has been praying for does not seem to be happening, according to new opinion polls, as he continues to trail Joe Biden.
A new Wall Street Journal/ NBC News poll, conducted on Monday ( AEDT) in 12 states in which the election is most competitive, finds Joe Biden leading 51 per cent to 46 per cent, essentially unchanged from a survey late last week.
Pollsters say Mr Biden is getting strong support among swinging voters who identify as suburban white women.
FLORIDA
Donald Trump won this state by 1.2 per cent in 2016. Florida is famous for delivering the presidency to George W Bush over Al Gore in 2000 by just 537 votes out of six million cast.
According to USA Today’s average of averages, Mr Biden has a lead of under 2 per cent.
ARIZONA
Mr Trump won this state by 3.5 per cent in 2016, although polls show Mr Biden has a lead here of more than 2.5 per cent. Again, polls show Mr Trump is closing the gap.
WISCONSIN
Mr Trump won this battleground state by just 0.7 per cent in 2016. The polls show Mr Biden well ahead here.
MICHIGAN
This was the state that granted Mr Trump a tiny 0.2 per cent victory in 2016. The polls, according to USA Today, are showing Mr Biden with a comfortable lead, and even pulling away from Mr Trump.
PENNSYLVANIA
Mr Trump scored another unexpected and narrow victory here of 0.7 per cent. Mr Biden has a strong lead of over 5 per cent here, but his conflicted position over fracking could make him vulnerable.
NORTH CAROLINA
This state delivered a 3.6 per cent victory to Mr Trump last time around. Mr Biden holds a narrow lead in the polls, but Mr Trump is closing.