(Patriot.Buzz) – In a recent comprehensive national poll, a hypothetical four-way 2024 general election scenario reveals that the introduction of independent presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornell West significantly negatively impacts the support for the probable major party contenders, Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
The Quinnipiac University poll indicates that Biden has 47% and former President Trump has 46% support among registered voters. These figures are consistent with Quinnipiac’s surveys from August and September. The survey release details, “Democrats support Biden 94 – 4 percent, and Republicans support Trump 94 – 4 percent. Independents are split, with 45 percent supporting Trump and 44 percent supporting Biden.”
Introducing Kennedy into the hypothetical election equation, Biden’s support declines to 39%, Trump’s to 36%, with Kennedy garnering 22% support. In April, Kennedy initiated a Democratic primary challenge against Biden but pivoted last month, declaring his intention to pursue the presidency as an independent during an event in Philadelphia.
Similarly, West, a vociferous progressive academic, initially aligned with the Green Party but shifted to an independent candidacy last month. With West’s inclusion in the poll, Biden’s support further diminishes to 36%, Trump’s to 35%, Kennedy’s to 19%, and West attracts 6% support.
The poll also highlights the preferences of independent voters in a four-way matchup: approximately one-third support Kennedy, three in ten back Trump, Biden receives 27% support, and West attains 8%.
A significant challenge for Kennedy and West will be securing ballot access. Their campaigns must accumulate extensive lists of signatures in all 50 states to achieve ballot eligibility.
The survey underscores a notable enthusiasm gap among party lines. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans express heightened motivation to vote in the forthcoming presidential election, compared to 47% of Democrats and 45% of independents.
Focusing on the Democratic presidential nomination race, Biden leads with 77% support. Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author and spiritual advisor, stands at 8%, having launched her second consecutive White House bid in March. Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, one of the wealthiest Congress members, has secured 6% support among likely Democratic presidential primary voters.
In the Republican presidential nomination race, Trump leads with 64% support. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trails at 15%, and former South Carolina Governor and former ambassador Nikki Haley is at 6%. The survey also indicates that Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy each have 3% support, with all other candidates at 1% or less.
