2020 election polls: 20 million early votes cast and Biden takes early lead in Florida

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Trump finally says he wants a peaceful transfer of power but repeats election conspiracy theories

Donald Trump has less than three weeks to convince voters he deserves another four more years in the Oval Office but continues to trail his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in national opinion polls.

With just 18 days to the election, 20 million ballots have already been cast showing Democrats with an edge in the share of early votes cast, especially in Florida.

Florida is shaping up to be the battleground of the battleground states, with two polls released on Friday showing the state on a razor's edge between the two candidates.

A Hill-Harris poll showed both locked at 48 per cent of support, with the two competing over the four per cent of undecided voters in the Sunshine State.

A Mason Dixon Polling Strategy survey, meanwhile, showed Trump three points behind Biden in Florida. Three per cent is usually considered within the margin of error, so the state could go either way.

It’s a face that Barack Obama has recognized. The ex-president appeared in a Democratic Party campaign ad on behalf of his Biden to warn the election “is going to be close”.

• Trump news - President shares spoof Biden news story after refusing to denounce QAnon conspiracists

Key Points

• Trump and Biden deadlocked in Florida, latest poll
• Florida poll gives Biden razor-thin lead
• Obama appears in voter registration appeal to warn election 'going to be close’
• Trump 11 points behind Biden in latest national survey
• Biden now more popular than Obama in 2008, polls say

[16 October 2020 18:12 · Justin Vallejo]

Like the grandparents they are, the race between Trump and Biden could be decided by baking cookies

Septuagenarians have always used candy to bribe love from their grandkids, and the 2020 election is no different.

A Pennsylvania bakery whose campaign-cookies have predicted past presidential elections has a clear early winner in its red v blue bake-off.

Lochel’s Bakery, located in Montgomery County just north of Philadelphia, told Fox News it launched its “cookie poll” six weeks ago, with the Trump 2020 vs Biden 2020  

Bakery owner Kathleen Lochel told the outlet they have been selling out like no other election cycle, forcing them to close early and restock. 

“People are going crazy for them," she said. But who do Philadelphia voters have a sweet tooth for? 

Trump is leading Biden by a margin of 3 to 1.

Put that in your oven and bake it.

[16 October 2020 22:43 · Justin Vallejo]

Trump and Biden deadlocked in Florida, latest poll

With just 18 days to the election, a Hill-Harris poll that dropped this afternoon shows Donald Trump and Joe Biden in a dead heat in Florida.

Both are locked at 48 per cent of support with four per cent undivided.

Trump is strongest among white voters, while Biden is strongest among black and Hispanic voters.

Among black voters, 82 per cent support Biden compared to 13 per cent support for Trump. Among Hispanic voters, 57 per cent back Biden while 39 per cent back Trump.

“Trump has pulled even in Florida and that indicates some momentum and the capability to win against long odds here,” pollster Mark Penn told The Hill. “But his prior stronghold in the Midwest is where he is in trouble.”

The poll was conducted this week, between 12 October to 15 October.