According to a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist College national poll, President Joe Biden maintains a slight lead over former President Donald Trump among registered voters in a head-to-head matchup for the 2024 election. The survey, released on Friday, revealed that 50% of registered voters nationwide expressed their support for Biden's candidacy, while 48% backed Trump. The remaining 2% remained undecided.

The poll indicates that Biden has gained ground since the previous month's survey, where he and Trump were tied at 49% among registered voters. Even if Biden were to abandon his re-election campaign, the Vice President Kamala Harris would receive the same 50% support from registered voters. However, when not facing his 2020 opponent, Trump would receive 49%.

Other potential candidates were also assessed in the poll. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who defended the president in the aftermath of his debate performance, fared similarly against Trump as Biden with 50% support compared to Trump's 48%. Meanwhile, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has also defended Biden's mental fitness, would tie Trump at 49%.

Considering the narrow margins in the popular vote, it is suggested that Trump, with 78 years old, may have enough support in key states to win in the Electoral College.

In a hypothetical six-way presidential race, the poll revealed Trump leading with 43% support from registered voters. Biden closely followed with 42%. Independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 8% support, Cornel West garnered 3%, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein received 2% support.

Among voters planning to cast a ballot in November, Trump and Biden were tied at 45% each. These findings, along with a separate ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey, are likely to support Biden and his allies who advocate for him to stay in the race.

However, the White House has been losing support from party insiders, mega-donors, and senior congressional Democrats since Biden's lackluster debate performance against Trump. These concerns were not alleviated during an hour-long press conference where Biden stumbled over his words, even mixing up the name of his vice president with his chief political opponent.

As a result, three more House Democrats have recently come forward to urge Biden, the oldest-ever president, to bow out. Their calls for a stronger candidate to confront Trump's promised authoritarianism were supported by two-thirds of Americans, and more than half of those who would vote for Biden if he remained on the ballot for November 5.

While some House Democrats suggest Vice President Kamala Harris would be the best option if Biden were to withdraw, the Biden campaign reportedly conducted internal polls pitting Harris against Trump. Some officials within the campaign have expressed the sentiment that Biden "needs to drop out" since "no one involved in the effort thinks he has a path."

The results of this poll highlight the ongoing dynamics within the upcoming 2024 election, with Biden currently holding a narrow advantage over Trump and Harris emerging as a strong contender if circumstances change.