Trump LEADS Biden in crucial swing state: New poll shows ex-president inching ahead of the president in North Carolina, one of the battlegrounds that could decide the election

A new poll out of the swing state of North Carolina shows the presidential race in the crucial battleground is just about too close to call.

The Quinnipiac Poll of registered voters shows Trump barely leading Biden in the Tar Heel State 48 percent to 46 percent, within the margin of error.

North Carolina is an important swing state in the 2024 presidential election. Trump won it by less than 75,000 votes in 2020, and the Biden campaign has set its sights on the state as their top pick-up opportunity in 2024.

The Quinnipiac poll conducted in early April is the closest the head-to-head general election matchup has been in the state to date.

Poll of registered voters in North Carolina conducted April 4-8 shows Trump with a slight edge over Biden but the race within the 2.6 percent margin of error

When factoring in third party candidates, Trump leads in the poll 41 percent to Biden's 38 percent. Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. receives 12 percent. 

'With overall voter enthusiasm for Biden and Trump lukewarm at best, close to one in five North Carolina voters look at third party candidates with open minds and the potential to throw a wrench into the works in a close race,' said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

When it comes to the top issues in the state voters were split depending on political party. Republicans said the top issue was immigration at 43 percent and the economy at 31 percent. 

Democrats in the state said it was preserving democracy at 33 percent, followed by racial inequality at 11 percent. 

President Biden and Vice President Harris at a campaign event in Raleigh on March 26 with Democratic North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper

Donald Trump at a rally in Greensboro, NC ahead of the state's presidential primary on March 2

Overall, more registered voters said Trump would do a better job handling the economy and immigration while more said Biden would do better at preserving democracy.

When it comes to the economy, nearly one third of North Carolina voters described it as excellent or good while two-thirds described it as not good or poor.

The majority of voters believe the economy is getting worse, but six out of ten voters described their own financial situation as excellent or good.

As the issue of abortion has taken center stage in the 2024 presidential election, sixty-three precent of voters in the state think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. 

30 percent of registered voters in the state said abortion should be illegal in most or all cases. 

Democrats have been bullish that North Carolina is a battleground state they can potentially flip this fall. 

The Biden campaign has already invested time and money in the state with on the ground staff. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris visited the state in late March. Harris returned again in early April.

Trump was last in the state for a rally ahead of its presidential primary on Super Tuesday in early March.

North Carolina expected to have the most contentious governor race in the country this fall with Democrat Josh Stein up against Republican Mark Robinson. Polls show Stein with a slight edge

North Carolina also has a governors race this fall that is expected to be one of the most contentious in the country.

The Quinnipiac poll shows current Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein leading Republican opponent and close Trump supporter Lt. Governor Mark Robinson by eight points.

Stein is at 52 percent while Robinson is at 44 percent. Even when a third party candidate is factored in, Stein leads by seven points.

The average of polls in the governors race is much closer with Stein leading by 3 points.