Biden Is Ahead In Georgia, But It Is Too Close To Call In Ohio, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Democrats Lead In Both Georgia Senate Races

GEORGIA: Biden 51%, Trump 44%

OHIO: Biden 48%, Trump 47%

GEORGIA SENATE: Ossoff 51%, Perdue 45%

GEORGIA SENATE: Warnock 41%, Collins 22%, Loeffler 20%

With twenty days to go until Election Day, former Vice President Joe Biden has a lead over President Donald Trump in Georgia and the two are essentially tied in Ohio, according to Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University polls of likely voters. Both states voted for Trump in 2016.

GEORGIA: PRESIDENTIAL RACE

In Georgia, Biden leads 51 - 44 percent among likely voters, while 4 percent are undecided. On September 29th, the race for the White House was too close to call when Biden had 50 percent support and Trump had 47 percent support. The September survey was taken before the first presidential debate and the president's COVID-19 diagnosis.

Today, likely voters give Biden a slightly positive 51 - 46 percent favorability rating, compared to a mixed 48 percent favorable and 49 percent unfavorable rating in the last survey.

Likely voters give Trump a negative 43 - 54 percent favorability rating today, compared to a mixed 47 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable rating in the last survey.

"For Trump, 2016 is a distant memory. Defeating Hillary Clinton by 5 points when the polls closed then, and now down seven to Biden with three weeks to go. Warning lights are blinking red and alarms are going off in the Peach Tree state," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

Likely voters say 59 - 38 percent that they do not trust Donald Trump to tell the truth to the American people when it comes to his health.

For Joe Biden, likely voters are divided 50 - 46 percent that they do trust Biden to tell the truth to the American people when it comes to his health.

GEORGIA: OSSOFF VS. PERDUE

Today, Democrat Jon Ossoff leads Republican incumbent Senator David Perdue 51 - 45 percent, while 3 percent are undecided. This compares to a virtual tie in late September when Ossoff had 49 percent and Perdue had 48 percent.

When it comes to favorability ratings, likely voters have a positive view of Ossoff 46 - 36 percent, and a mixed view of Perdue with 43 percent saying favorable and 46 percent saying unfavorable.

GEORGIA: SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION

Democrat Raphael Warnock leads in the special election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed in December of 2019.

Likely voters give Warnock 41 percent of the vote, a jump of ten percentage points since late September when he received 31 percent. Republican Doug Collins gets 22 percent, which is unchanged from September, and Loeffler gets 20 percent, compared to 23 percent in September.

If a candidate does not get more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day, there will be a runoff.

In hypothetical head-to-head matchups between Democrat Warnock and the top two Republican challengers, Warnock leads in both scenarios. Likely voters support Warnock over Loeffler 52 - 44 percent, and support Warnock over Collins 54 - 42 percent.

"Sleepless GOP Senate watchers have Georgia on their minds. And with two Senate seats in play, Democrats are sensing that a potential seismic shift in the balance of power is possible," added Malloy.

GEORGIA: VOTING IN 2020

Thirty-nine percent of likely voters say they have cast or plan to cast their ballot at an early voting location, while 31 percent say they plan to vote in person on Election Day and 30 percent say they have voted or plan to vote by mail or absentee ballot.

How voters cast ballots varies by political party. More Republicans (44 percent) and independents (35 percent) say they will vote in person on Election Day compared to Democrats (14 percent). More Democrats (43 percent) are currently going the route of voting by mail or absentee ballot than Republicans (20 percent) and independents (24 percent). However, when it comes to casting ballots at an early voting location, there is not much difference along party lines as 36 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of Democrats, and 39 percent of independents say they will.

OHIO: PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The race for the White House in Ohio remains essentially tied, as likely voters support Biden 48 percent and Trump 47 percent. Four percent are undecided. This is identical to the last Ohio survey released on September 24th.

Likely voters have a mixed opinion of Biden with 48 percent having a favorable view and 47 percent having an unfavorable one. In September, they gave him a mixed 45 percent favorable and 49 percent unfavorable rating.

Likely voters give Trump a slightly negative 46 - 51 percent favorability rating, which is virtually unchanged from a negative 45 - 51 percent rating in September.

"Going down to the wire, it's a nail biter in Ohio four years after the Buckeye State delivered a decisive win for Donald Trump. Joe Biden and Trump remain locked in a race that is too close to call, and the needle hasn't budged with each candidate sitting exactly where they were in late September," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Mary Snow.

Likely voters in Ohio say 56 - 42 percent that they do not trust Donald Trump to tell the truth to the American people when it comes to his health.

For Joe Biden, they say 51 - 45 percent that they do trust him to tell the truth to the American people when it comes to his health.

OHIO: VOTING IN 2020

Forty-seven percent of likely voters in Ohio say they think they will vote in person on Election Day, while 30 percent are currently going with voting by mail or absentee ballot and 21 percent have cast or plan to cast their ballot at an early voting location.

There are big differences by party. More Republicans (64 percent) and independents (47 percent) say they plan to vote in person compared to Democrats (23 percent). More Democrats (49 percent) are currently going the route of voting by mail or absentee ballot than independents (29 percent) and Republicans (19 percent). Democrats (26 percent), independents (21 percent), and Republicans (17 percent) are not that far apart, however, when it comes to casting ballots at an early voting location.

TRUMP HANDLING JOB & CORONAVIRUS

In Georgia, likely voters disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job, 53 - 45 percent. In Ohio, likely voters are divided on the way Trump is handling his job with 51 percent disapproving and 47 percent approving.

When it comes to the way he is handling the response to the coronavirus, Georgia likely voters disapprove 54 - 44 percent. Ohio likely voters slightly disapprove 51 - 46 percent of the way he is handling the response to the coronavirus.

Likely voters in Georgia say 55 - 36 percent that the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. is out of control. Along similar lines, likely voters in Ohio say 53 - 40 percent that the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. is out of control.

From October 8th - 12th:

• 1,040 likely voters in Georgia were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points;
• 1,160 likely voters in Ohio were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than twenty states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.