The ongoing criminal trial against former President Donald Trump in New York City seems to have little impact on his political standing, with recent polls indicating a tight race with President Biden.
Despite facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, Mr. Trump’s candidacy remains robust, challenging the notion that legal controversies could dampen his electoral prospects, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this week.
A plurality of 46% believes Mr. Trump engaged in illegal activities, closely followed by 45% who disagree, the poll found. In addition, 27% of individuals surveyed view Mr. Trump’s actions as unethical but not illegal, while 18% see no fault in his actions.
The former president’s supporters appear largely unaffected by the trial’s developments: In the event of a conviction, 62% report that their vote for Mr. Trump would remain unchanged, with 15% more inclined to support him and only 21% less likely.
Mr. Trump’s criminal trial began last week with jury selection and quickly moved into opening arguments. Throughout, he has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. He has frequently dismissed the proceedings as “political persecution” and expressed concerns over the trial’s timing, alleging it unfairly benefits Biden by sidelining him from the campaign trail.
The poll shows Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump neck-and-neck at 46% support among voters. The inclusion of independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Cornel West, and Green Party’s Jill Stein sees the two main candidates tied at 37%.
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, faces challenges of his own, with a job approval rating at a dismally low 35%, a slight decrease from 37% in March. Disapproval of his job performance has increased to 61% from 59%.
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