Four Democrats and one Republican pull ahead of their competitors in the election polls

 

With almost a year to go until the 2020 presidential election, a few candidates are already claiming their positions as front runners. Out of the 20 Democratic remaining candidates, three have set themselves apart from the rest, gaining an important advantage. For the Republicans, Trump has the top spot.

While results from national polls may not be the most accurate predictors of presidential elections, they do provide meaningful insight as to which candidates are gaining favor overall.  

 

Joe Biden (Democrat)

 

According to the New York Times, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is currently leading the national polls with a 26 percent average. Across a range of pollsters, including Reuters, CNN and the Washington Post, Biden has consistently swept national polls since Aug. 20. 

Biden has also averaged the majority of early state-level polling with a 31 percent average compared to the next closest candidate, Bernie Sanders who averages 24.5 percent. Biden’s success in the polls and debates has translated into financial stability. So far, Biden has accumulated $22 million in donations from April to June — second only to Pete Buttigieg.

Biden’s campaign is built around three main ideas: rebuilding the middle class, reclaiming America’s leadership position on the world stage and protecting the democratic process. 

One of Biden’s most steadfast policies is protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that was enacted during former President Barack Obama’s term. Biden’s four step plan for building on ACA is laid out in detail on his campaign website

In addition to health care, Biden is taking a strong stand on environmentalism. 

According to his campaign website, “The Biden Plan” is pushing for a 100 percent clean energy economy and net-zero emissions by 2050; building a stronger, more resilient nation; inspiring all nations to act against climate change; standing up to those who pollute disproportionately; and protecting America’s workers. 

Biden hopes to finance his progessive plan by rolling back the Trump tax incentives that enrich corporations at the expense of American jobs and the environment.

Biden also hopes to retreat back to the roots of what he believes America was built upon: democracy and the American people. Protecting the right to vote, renewing basic American values and mending relationships with foreign countries drive his campaign.

 

Bernie Sanders (Independent/Democrat)

 

Senator Bernie Sanders resides in second place with a 17 percent national polling average. Sanders has crafted a unique stance in the race by distancing himself from both large political parties, filing as an independent late February. Sanders averaged high in the early voting state polls; however, he fell fell short where Biden succeeded in some states, including South Carolina. With $18 million in contributions, Sanders lies in fourth place for fundraising. 

Sanders aims to solve six core issues: Medicare, climate crisis, college expenses, workplace democracy, housing and social security.

The Medicare for all initiative hopes to have America join every other major country that provides health care to every person, regardless of income. Sanders also aims to implement three acts to lower the general price of prescription drugs.

Sanders’s most popular proposal is a college for all, debt-free education system. Sanders argues that in order for the young people of America to grow up and lead this country successfully and effectively, it starts with education at the collegiate level.

“Today, we say to our young people that we want you to get the best education that you can, regardless of the income of your family. Good jobs require a good education. That is why we are going to make public colleges and universities tuition free, and cancel all student debt,” Sanders said on his campaign website.

As a solution, Sanders would make college free for everyone, cancel all existing debt, make college debt-free for all, invest in historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions and end equity gaps in higher education attainment. 

In order to pay for this plan, Sanders intends to tax Wall Street workers, potentially earning the $2.2 trillion needed to cover the cost. This method is already in place by several other countries, including Britain, South Korea, Brazil and France.

 

Elizabeth Warren (Democrat)

 

Senator Elizabeth Warren is trailing on Sanders’s coattails with a 16 percent national polling average. Warren holds the third position in national polling, early state polling, monetary contributions and news coverage.

Warren’s goals are to strengthen democracy, rebuild the middle class, enforce equal justice and enforce a foreign policy for all. Her latest plans include ending Washington corruption, expanding social security and protection from gun violence. 

Warren argues that, “The Trump administration is the most corrupt administration of our timeline,” but she continues to say that the problem runs deeper than that: the real issue is government corruption. In order to uproot the corruption, Warren has announced an aggressive set of proposals including applying conflict of interest laws to the president and vice president, automatically disclosing tax returns of government officials, ending access to insider political information used for Wall Street traders and more. 

As for gun violence, Warren’s goal as president is to reduce the number of annual deaths from firearms by 80 percent. While there is no clear path to achieving this yet, Warren is determined to constantly revisit and update solutions based on new research. As for now, she promises to hold both gun dealers and manufacturers accountable for the violence promoted by their products, break the corrupted relationship between Congress and the NRA and sign a comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation within the first 100 days in office. 

 

Donald Trump (Republican)  

 

According to recent polls, President Trump is currently averaging a 53.6 percent disapproval rating and a 41.9 percent approval rating. Trump is significantly trailing behind Biden, Sanders, Warren, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg.

Trump has not created any new initiatives, he says he intends to keep fulfilling the promises he made to the American people four years ago.

“This victory was the result of a Movement to put America first, to save the American economy, and to make America once again a shining city on the hill,” Trump says on his campaign site, “But our Movement cannot stop now — we still have much work to do.”

 

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Regardless of readers’ political stances, it is important as American citizens to keep informed on the election progress. Use your voice as a citizen to support what you believe in during the Nov. 2020 presidential election.