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Interest in news stories
Q. How closely have you been following these news stories in the last fortnight?
The 2020 US election
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||
| Very closely | 28% | 31% | 24% | 28% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 28% | 26% |
| Fairly closely | 41% | 44% | 37% | 39% | 43% | 40% | 40% | 45% | 40% | 32% |
| Not that closely | 22% | 18% | 26% | 24% | 21% | 21% | 20% | 18% | 24% | 29% |
| Not closely at all | 10% | 7% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 5% | 7% | 13% |
| TOTAL: CLOSELY | 68% | 75% | 62% | 67% | 70% | 68% | 70% | 77% | 69% | 58% |
| TOTAL: NOT CLOSELY | 32% | 25% | 38% | 33% | 30% | 32% | 30% | 23% | 31% | 42% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 479 | 531 | 250 | 383 | 377 | 323 | 404 | 80 | 122 |
US politician favourability
Q. How favourable or unfavourable do you feel towards each of the US politicians?
| TOTAL: Favourable | After US election
(16/11/20) |
Before US election
(02/11/20) |
| Donald Trump | 21% | 28% |
| Joe Biden | 59% | 43% |
| Base (n) | 1,010 | 1,063 |
| TOTAL: Favourable | TOTAL: Unfavourable | Very favourable | Somewhat favourable | Somewhat unfavourable | Very unfavourable | Unsure | Never heard of them | |
| Donald Trump | 21% | 72% | 8% | 12% | 14% | 58% | 7% | 1% |
| Joe Biden | 59% | 24% | 21% | 38% | 13% | 11% | 15% | 2% |
- Since the US election, favourability of Donald Trump has fallen from 28% to 21%, while Joe Biden’s has increased from 43% to 59%.
US election statements
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the recent US election?
| TOTAL: Agree | TOTAL: Disagree | Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | Unsure | |
| The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia | 59% | 14% | 24% | 34% | 7% | 7% | 27% |
| The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation | 71% | 15% | 38% | 33% | 8% | 7% | 14% |
| The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally | 21% | 62% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 50% | 17% |
| TOTAL: Agree | Federal Voting Intention | Gender | |||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | Male | Female | ||
| The Biden Presidency will be good for Australia | 65% | 61% | 69% | 47% | 62% | 55% | |
| The Biden Presidency should improve the USA’s reputation | 76% | 72% | 86% | 62% | 72% | 70% | |
| The main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally | 18% | 26% | 17% | 31% | 27% | 16% | |
| Base (n) | 323 | 404 | 80 | 122 | 479 | 531 | |
- Most people think the Biden presidency will be good for Australia (59%) and it will restore the Reputation of the USA (71%).
- Trump’s widely disputed allegations of voter fraud are not accepted in Australia, with just 11% strongly agreeing that the main reason Donald Trump lost the election is that many people voted illegally, and 10% somewhat agreeing.
US Presidential Nominee Favourability
Q. How favourable or unfavourable do you feel towards each of the US Presidential nominees?
| TOTAL: Favourable | TOTAL: Unfavourable | Very favourable | Somewhat favourable | Somewhat unfavourable | Very unfavourable | Unsure | Never heard of them | |
| Donald Trump | 28% | 61% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 47% | 10% | 1% |
| Joe Biden | 43% | 37% | 13% | 30% | 17% | 20% | 18% | 3% |
| TOTAL: Favourable | Total | Federal Voting Intention | Gender | |||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | Male | Female | |||
| Donald Trump | 28% | 22% | 39% | 16% | 31% | 36% | 20% | |
| Joe Biden | 43% | 49% | 45% | 58% | 29% | 47% | 40% | |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 352 | 431 | 85 | 100 | 530 | 533 | |
- Joe Biden is viewed more favourably by Australians ahead of the Presidential election this week. 43% say they feel favourable to the Democrat nominee, compared to 28% who feel favourable to Republican Donald Trump.
- Men have a higher favourability towards Donald Trump than women (36% to 20%). Coalition voters are more likely to be favourable to Trump than Labor or Greens voters (39% to 22% and 16% respectively).
Preferred US Presidential Election Winner
Q. Thinking about the 2020 US presidential election, which candidate do you want to win?
| Total | Federal Voting Intention | Gender | ||||||
| Labor | Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | Male | Female | |||
| Donald Trump | 26% | 20% | 38% | 10% | 25% | 33% | 19% | |
| Joe Biden | 51% | 60% | 44% | 72% | 37% | 49% | 52% | |
| Unsure | 24% | 20% | 18% | 18% | 39% | 18% | 29% | |
| Base (n) | 1,063 | 352 | 431 | 85 | 100 | 530 | 533 | |
- Joe Biden would be the preferred winner of the Presidential election, with 51% selecting him over the 26% preferring Donald Trump.
- Joe Biden has the majority of preferences among Labor voters (60%), Greens voters (72%) and women (52%).
US Presidential Nominee Attributes
Q. Which of the following describe your opinion of the Democratic American Presidential nominee?
| Donald Trump | Joe Biden | Difference | |
| Aggressive | 72% | 15% | +57 |
| Arrogant | 73% | 18% | +55 |
| Intolerant | 63% | 19% | +44 |
| Erratic | 67% | 23% | +44 |
| Narrow-minded | 62% | 22% | +42 |
| More dishonest than other politicians | 54% | 21% | +33 |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 60% | 28% | +32 |
| Visionary | 29% | 34% | -5 |
| Hard-working | 37% | 48% | -11 |
| Good in a crisis | 22% | 33% | -11 |
| A capable leader | 29% | 41% | -12 |
| Intelligent | 36% | 50% | -14 |
| Someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia | 27% | 42% | -15 |
| Understands the problems facing America | 32% | 51% | -19 |
- Donald Trump is seen to be aggressive (72% describing the president as this), arrogant (73%) and erratic (67%).
- Joe Biden is more likely than his opponent to be seen as understanding the problems facing America (51%), intelligent (50%) and hard-working (48%).
- 42% of people think Joe Biden is someone who will strengthen the US relationship with Australia, compared to 27% who think Donald Trump would do the same during a second term as president.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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Two Party Preferred:
Labor
45%
Coalition
48%
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