Trump Supporters Are More Enthusiastic, While Biden Voters Are More Anxious, Poll Says

A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that Donald Trump supporters are more enthusiastic about their candidate, while Joe Biden voters are more anxious about the election.

Only 31% of Biden supporters say they are excited about the 2020 campaign, the poll says, with 42% of Trump voters saying they feel that way. On the other hand, 72% of Biden supporters feel "anxious" about the race, with 52% of Trump voters using "anxious" to describe their feelings about the election.

Biden voters may be wary due to the outcome of the 2016 election, when Trump landed an upset win against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote. Biden himself has expressed concerns that Trump may try to “steal” the election, as the Republican incumbent continues to rail against mail-in voting amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and after evidence that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

Trump supporters are also more likely to portray him in a positive light, with wide majorities of his backers using phrases such as “stands up for what he believes” (87%), “strong leader” (75%) and “capable” (76%) describe him very well. On the other hand, fewer Biden supporters say the phrases “standing up for what he believes” (63%), “strong leader” (50%) and “capable” (56%) describe the presumptive Democratic nominee very well.

Biden supporters may be less enthusiastic about their candidate but are voting for him because they want to deny Trump a second term. Polls during the Democratic primary showed that voters had "electability" as their top priority when choosing a candidate.

In June, a focus group of swing voters in Erie, Pennsylvania, told Axios that Biden could restore a sense of stability in the U.S., after mass civil unrest during the Trump administration.

Recent surveys show Biden leading trump handily in the general election. The latest Harvard-Harris survey puts Biden at 55% support nationwide, compared to Trump's 45%.