In a recent survey conducted by Emerson College, former President Donald Trump emerges as the frontrunner, leading President Joe Biden both nationally and in seven crucial battleground states. The poll, sponsored by Democrats for the Next Generation, shows that 46 percent of registered voters support Trump, while 42 percent favor Biden, and 12 percent remain undecided.

Despite an attempted assassination on Trump over the weekend, where a gunman grazed his ear with a bullet during a rally in Pennsylvania, the poll indicates that Biden's support has dipped by 2 points since the previous survey, while Trump's support remains steady.

Commenting on the findings, Spencer Kimball, the director of Emerson College polling, raises questions about the reasons behind Biden's decline, suggesting that it could be influenced by the recent debate or a potential plateau in Trump's support.

The survey, conducted after the incident, reveals some interesting trends. Since March, Trump has experienced a 1-point gain in key states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and a 2-point gain in Arizona. However, there's been a decline of 1 point in Trump's support in Michigan.

Among the battleground states, Michigan remains the closest race, with Trump leading at 45 percent and Biden trailing closely at 42 percent. The survey found that 13 percent of respondents are undecided in Michigan.

In other battleground states, Trump holds a 5-point lead in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, a 6-point lead in Georgia, and a 7-point lead in both North Carolina and Arizona.

It is worth noting that Biden had carried these swing states in the 2020 election, with the exception of North Carolina, where he narrowly lost.

The poll results come on the heels of Biden's lackluster debate performance last month, which raised concerns among Democrats and led to calls for him to step aside from the race. The survey indicates that while 36 percent of Democratic primary voters believe Biden should withdraw, a majority of 64 percent believe he should stay the course.

The national poll was conducted on July 15-16 and included 2,000 registered voters. The credibility interval for the survey is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, these poll results could contribute to the ongoing political discourse and shape the campaigns of both Trump and Biden moving forward.