Voters are more interested in another Joe Biden administration than any third-party option or Donald Trump in 2024, according to polling data from Monmouth University.
In another Biden vs. Trump election, a combined 47% of voters say they would definitely or probably vote for President Biden and 40% of voters would definitely or probably vote for ex-President Trump. But majorities would not vote for either Biden or Trump, the poll found.
The electorate is seemingly disheartened with these two choices, but they’re not exactly enticed by a third-party option, either.
Biden still had more support than Trump, even when a third-party “fusion ticket” with one Democrat and one Republican was added to the mix, Monmouth found.
With a fusion ticket as an option, 37% of respondents would definitely or probably vote for Biden whereas 28% would definitely or probably vote for Trump. Thirty percent of respondents would entertain voting for the fusion ticket.
Democrats have expressed concern that a third-party ticket would siphon votes from Biden and spoil his chances in 2024. The presence of a third-party fusion ticket detracts votes from both Biden and Trump, but not enough for the ticket to be a “spoiler,” the polling report said.
Support for a fusion option declines when actual candidates are named on the ticket.
When the poll introduced a potential ticket of Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 44% of respondents definitely would not vote for the option. Only 2% of respondents definitely would vote for the hypothetical Manchin-Huntsman ticket.
Manchin and Huntsman headlined a town hall on Monday hosted by the nonprofit No Labels, which is pursuing ballot access to enter a “unity” ticket, similar to the Monmouth poll’s fusion ticket, in the 2024 race. The event heightened speculation that Manchin could have presidential aspirations for 2024.
Read: Sen. Joe Manchin fuels rumors of a third-party 2024 presidential bid
If 2024 turns out to be a Biden vs. Trump vs. Manchin-Huntsman race, Biden would likely get 40% of the vote, Trump 34% and Manchin-Huntsman 16%, the poll found.
“Some voters clearly feel they have to back a candidate they don’t really like. That suggests there may be an opening for a third party in 2024, but when you drill down further, there doesn’t seem to be enough defectors to make that a viable option,” Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth Polling Institute, said.