President Donald Trump has consistently trailed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in most national and swing state polls ahead of the 2020 election.
In an even more foreboding sign for Trump, early data indicates that voter enthusiasm is through the roof. With 8 days still to go before election day, nearly 60 million people have already voted. The Washington Post predicts that the more Americans will have cast their votes before Election Day—rather than on it—or the first time in history.
The President is projecting optimism that a second Trump victory is in the bag, insisting that the polls are "fake" and noting that 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was favored to win the election against him. While Clinton won the popular vote by millions of votes, Trump narrowly won the electoral college, securing him the White House.
While widespread early voting is a promising sign for Democrats, the Trump administration signaled to reporters on Air Force One that the President isn't lacking in support, these supporters just haven't voted yet.
Trump officials placed printouts of a tweet showing results from an online CBS/YouGov poll, which found Trump ahead among those yet to vote in at least three swing states.
As we depart Maine for Washington, this was placed on every seat in the Air Force One press cabin pic.twitter.com/j8vkeiprP1
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) October 25, 2020
The poll shows Trump ahead of Biden by wide margins in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, but CBS Elections Manager Kabir Khanna—who oversaw this poll and its analysis–said the campaign was "cherry picking" the results.
Here's fuller picture from our latest set of battleground state surveys https://t.co/fQ32k54Jg9
— Kabir K. (@kabir_here) October 25, 2020
People were skeptical that this information was as reassuring as Trump officials seemed to think.
Imagine thinking this polling makes you look good https://t.co/y6nE3y0KfG
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) October 26, 2020
He's going to win all the non-voters. 😂 https://t.co/U1PxkmwdZy
— Michael Ⓜ️ (@michaelschweitz) October 26, 2020
I, uh, don't think this poll means what the person who printed it out seems to think it means https://t.co/Tb7CB1sHPu
— Christopher Hooks (@cd_hooks) October 25, 2020
Trump killing it with critical non-voter voters https://t.co/LCSVGjyc0f
— Jacques Calonne (@JacquesCalonne) October 25, 2020
Overwhelming lead among people who will drive by their precincts, see the lines and decide not to vote. https://t.co/v1OqClShRc
— Canderous Ordoliberal 🇦🇲🕊🇦🇿 (@butleriano) October 26, 2020
This is totally normal for a campaign that actually believes they are winning https://t.co/L1IyXKrCmJ
— Lance Samsqamch 🏴☠️🇺🇲🏴☠️ (@thelancemann) October 25, 2020
Others took the results with deeper urgency.
If this does not motivate you... https://t.co/1KS3asqqcp
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) October 25, 2020
Nothing is written. https://t.co/22YcT89cPE
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) October 25, 2020
The early voting numbers are wonderful, yes. But we cannot be complacent. Volunteer. Work. Call. Donate. VOTE! https://t.co/yCP7Hwr7dV
— Kelly AuCoin (@KellyAuCoin77) October 26, 2020
Election Day is on November 3rd, but early voting has begun in at least 40 states.
