Joe Biden would 'comfortably beat' Donald Trump in 2020 election, new poll suggests

White House run? Joe Biden may run for president in 2020
AP
Tom Powell16 November 2017

Joe Biden would comfortably beat Donald Trump if the two met in the 2020 presidential election, a new poll has suggested.

A survey conducted by Politico and Morning Consult asked Americans who they would vote for in the hypothetical scenario.

Former vice president Biden received the backing of 46 per cent of voters, compared to just 35 per cent for current president Trump.

There has been speculation that Mr Biden, 74, may run for presidency in 2020 despite him publicly denying any concrete plans.

Donald Trump has been criticised multiple times for gaffes during his presidency 
AFP/Getty Images

He carefully considered a campaign in 2016 but eventually decided not to run following the death of his son Beau.

Analysts in the US have suggested that Mr Biden would do better than Hillary Clinton at winning over white working class voters, whose switch to Mr Trump saw him storm to a shock victory just over a year ago.

The poll found Mr Trump and Mr Biden were equally supported among white voters.

At 78, Mr Biden would be the oldest president to assume office - eight years older than Mr Trump.

He enjoyed a close relationship with Barack Obama during their time in office together and despite two failed attempts to win the Democratic nomination in 1988 and 2008, he now has a significant public profile.

He decided not to run in the 2016 presidential election following the death of his oldest son Beau from brain cancer a year earlier. The 46-year-old Iraq veteran and Democrat politician was well known in America and his death widely mourned.