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Former President Donald Trump has reportedly widened his lead over President Joe Biden, according to multiple new polls published for the first time since their first presidential debate last week.
Trump, 78, is reportedly leading Biden, 81, by a a 49% to 43% margin among likely voters, the largest lead the former president has held in any poll since initially announcing his run for president in 2015, as well as a 49% to 41% margin among registered voters, according to the New York Times/Siena College survey published on Wednesday (July 3). Trump reportedly increased his lead by two percentage points since the last New York Times/Siena College survey published prior to the debate last Thursday (June 27).
The former president has also increased his lead by four percentage points in the latest Wall Street Journal poll, which sees him at a 47% to 45% advantage over Biden. The updated polls come amid uncertainty regarding the current president's re-election campaign as a top campaign official reportedly told at least one megadonor that Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 election is "only a matter of time" privately according to TMZ.
The official reportedly said that focus has shifted from singular support of the president's re-election to "Democrats have to retain The White House" following Biden's disastrous performance in the first presidential debate against Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly the most likely person to step in as the Democratic nominee due to funds raised by the Biden-Harris campaign.
Biden, the oldest president in history, appeared opposite Trump, on the debate stage for the first time since the 2020 election and did little to quell concerns about his vigor and energy. The president appeared to struggle with his voice, clearing his throat and coughing multiple times, and was often seen open-mouthed and staring when Trump spoke, occasionally struggling to finish sentences.
Biden's performance reportedly led to "panic" among Democrats, according to longtime Democratic operative and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod.
“He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in,” Axelrod said, adding that "there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”