PPP’s newest Iowa poll finds that both the Senate race and the Presidential race in the state have tightened since the winter.
In the Senate race Joni Ernst leads Theresa Greenfield just 43-42, an indication that Iowa could make for another tough hold for Republicans on a map that’s been expanding for Democrats. When PPP previously polled the race in December Ernst had a 6 point lead at 47-41. Ernst has taken a hit in her popularity- only 37% of voters now approve of the job she’s doing to 43% who disapprove.
The Presidential race looks like a toss up as well. Donald Trump now leads Joe Biden just 48-46 in a state that he won by 9 points in 2016. Mirroring a trend seen in other polls of Biden polling surprisingly well with older voters, he leads Trump 52-44 with seniors.
70% of Iowans think every registered voter in the state should be mailed an absentee ballot so that they can vote from home in the fall, to only 22% who oppose that. There’s bipartisan consensus on the question of letting everyone vote by mail- Democrats (89/6), independents (65/26), and Republicans (54/36) are all in favor of it.
53% of voters in the state think meatpacking plants should be closed until health officials deem it safe for workers to return, to 36% who think they should be open now to ensure there’s no disruption to the national food supply.
PPP interviewed 1,222 Iowa voters on April 30th and May 1st. The margin of error is +/-2.8% and the full results are here