Photo: Alamy
A new survey of Pennsylvania voters, which also polled likely voters aged 50 and over, fared well for President Trump, marking a significant advantage in a state whose older voters “made up more than half (55%) of the commonwealth’s electorate in 2020.”
Biden received 80,000 more ballots than Trump in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election, although the result is still highly scrutinized nearly four years later.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) hired Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research to conduct the poll, which took place between April 24 and 30.
The surveyors interviewed 1,398 likely voters in the state, including “an oversample of 470 likely voters age 50 and older,” as well as an “oversample of 328 black likely voters age 50 and older,” according to AARP.
Trump received 49 percent support from all likely voters surveyed for the poll, while Biden received just 45 percent. His support was even higher among the 50+ crowd, which came in hot at 52 percent to Biden’s 42 percent.
In an article reporting the results of the poll, AARP wrote, “Pennsylvanians ages 50+ will be key in determining who wins in November.”
The nonprofit also pointed out that “Eighty-percent of voters ages 50+ report that candidates’ positions on Social Security are important in deciding whom to vote for in November, followed by Medicare (73%), helping people stay in their homes as they age (69%), and the cost of prescription drugs (67%).”
In another important Pennsylvania race, Republican candidate Dave McCormick polled at 48 percent to incumbent Senator Bob Casey Jr.’s 47 percent. Casey leads McCormick by four percent among voters 18 to 49, but McCormick could ride Trump’s coattails and edge out a victory that could help shift control of the Senate back to Republicans.
Pennsylvania AARP director Bill Johnston Walsh said that voters in the state want their elected officials to “protect Social Security and provide support to family caregivers.” He emphasized the importance of voters’ biggest concerns, stating, “If candidates want to win, they should pay attention to the issues that matter to Pennsylvanians ages 50-plus.”