Many political analysts believe President Donald Trump must win Florida to return to the White House.
But the GOP’s loosening grip on Jacksonville, the only Republican-run big city in the state, is complicating that political math.
And it’s giving Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden a slight edge in Florida, according to a University of North Florida political analyst.
Related: Local, State And National 2020 Election News
Mike Binder runs the Public Opinion Research Lab at UNF.
The lab has been contracted by The New York Times/Siena College Poll to conduct battleground state polling in the 2020 presidential election between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
“The gap is widening. Duval is changing. This is not the same county that it was 10, 15, 20 years ago. And it looks to us that it's going to be a close race. And I certainly think that Joe Biden has a really good opportunity to win Duval County,” Binder said Thursday morning on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross.
At the same time, the Trump campaign and local Republican leaders are confident Trump will win Florida’s 29 electoral votes.
To hear the entire interview with Binder, listen to Thursday’sFirst Coast Connect with Melissa Ross. The show also encores at 8 p.m. on WJCT News 89.9.
The president will be holding a rally in Jacksonville Tuesday night, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at Cecil Airport. The doors open at 4 p.m.
WJCT News will have coverage of the president’s rally later Thursday night on WJCT.org and on Morning Edition Friday on WJCT News 89.9
Melissa Ross can be reached at mross@wjct.org, 904-358-6382 or on Twitter at @MelissainJax.
