New data from the Cook Political Report reveals a significant shift in electoral battleground states, with six key regions changing their leanings in favor of Donald Trump.
According to the report, released on Tuesday, three states have moved from “toss-up” to “lean Republican” – Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. Additionally, two other states have shifted from “likely” to “lean Democrat” – Minnesota and New Hampshire – while Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District has moved from “likely” to “lean Democrat”.
Dave Wasserman, of the Cook Political Report, contends that Trump now has a “clear advantage” over President Biden in the presidential race, with a more plausible path to securing the necessary 270 Electoral votes. Wasserman’s statement runs counter to previous predictions of a tied race, suggesting instead that the competition is now decidedly in Trump’s favor.
The report also notes that Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief for the Cook Political Report, has received signals that Democratic insiders hope for Biden’s exit from the presidential ticket in the face of poor poll numbers and criticism. Despite these concerns, Walter affirms that Biden remains a persistent presence in the race.
In evaluating the current state of affairs, Walter states, “We can’t wave away the uncertainty of this moment, but we can try to soberly assess where things stand today, and where they are likely to go from here.”
