US President Donald Trump heads to Georgia on Wednesday for the 9th time, but the first as the underdog in his re-election presidential race 2020. Point to be noted that the president won the state by 5% points in 2016. But, several polls have taken since late June showing him in a dead heat with the presumptive Democratic nominee former Vice President Joe Biden. The swing in the Peach State is part of a broader trend in some states Trump won rather easily last time. Each shows a 5% point to 10% point swing away from the president. It clearly indicates that his campaign already is spending money in places it didn’t expect. President Trump will need to visit those places plenty before Election Day.
Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign was a start-up, but his re-election bid is turning into something of a reclamation project. A Republican strategist said, “The trip tells you that the triple whammy of the virus, the slowed-down economy, and the social unrest has really taken a toll. It’s more of an official visit this time, but there’s the president and his team would have to be completely unrealistic to not think Georgia is in play right now”. A University of Georgia survey completed in March 2020 putting him up 8% points over Biden. But 2 polls were also conducted by Public Policy Polling and Fox News in late June giving Biden a 2% point and 4% point lead there, respectively.
A former Clinton White House aide now with the Brookings Institution, Bill Galston said, “There’s no question all the lights are flashing red, at this moment at least, for the Trump campaign. Biden is doing well in places that six months ago, people thought he might not have a chance”. It is noteworthy that President Trump is headed to Atlanta ostensibly to announce the easing of regulations that his administration contends will clear the way for infrastructure projects in the Peach State. A list of polls shows nearly two-thirds of all Americans need Washington to cut a massive check for new roads, bridges, tunnels, and airports. Galston added, “From Trump’s perspective, the most important group is seniors. There is a reason why Joe Biden is doing well with seniors: they don’t see him as being as toxic as Hillary Clinton. They’re not afraid of him like with her”.