Joe Biden Tops Donald Trump In National Poll, But Lead Shrinking

Joseph R. Biden has a 7-point advantage over President Trump in a new national poll released Monday, but his lead has been cut nearly in half since late May.

The presumed Democratic presidential nominee topped Mr. Trump 49%-42% in the new national survey of likely voters by John Zogby Strategies and EMI Research Solutions.

The same poll in late May showed Mr. Biden ahead by 13 points, 54%-41%."This is a healthy lead for Biden at this point but he has lost 6 points in advantage in the past few weeks," said pollster John Zogby.

He noted that Mr. Biden previously had a 10-point lead among voters over 65, which appeared to have dissipated.Mr. Biden's advantage in the "gender gap" also shrank, though he still topped Mr. Trump among female voters by 10 points, 51%-41%.

"In a significant troubling sign he leads among 'Weekly Dollar Store Shoppers' by only 4 points — 48%-44%. His lead among those who never shop at a Dollar Store is 63%-27%," said Mr. Zogby. "If this is creeping elitism in Democratic support, it needs to be squashed."

The poll also revealed a weakness for Mr. Biden with the key Democratic bloc of Black voters. He garnered 77% of the Black vote, while Mr. Trump took 14%.

Mitt Romney won 6% of the Black vote when he was the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

The online survey of 1,000 likely voters showed both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump consolidating support from their parties. Mr. Biden led among Democrats 90%-6% and Mr. Trump carried Republicans 89%-7%.

Mr. Biden's overall lead came from his advantage among independent and non-aligned voters who favored him by 11 points over Mr. Trump, 45%-34%, with 21% undecided.

Mr. Trump led by 10 points with White voters,51%-41%, and Mr. Biden had a big lead with Hispanics, 65%-27%.

"Up to now, the Biden campaign has played it right — very low key, watch the other guy run against himself and implode," said Mr. Zogby. "I think he can sustain this for another few weeks as both the economy and the virus spin out of control and hurt the President. But Biden then needs to come out punching in early August."