Another poll of battleground states shows Gov. Tom Wolf receiving high marks for his response to COVID-19 in comparison to President Donald Trump, while former Vice President Joe Biden also holds a lead in a head to head matchup over the president in the Keystone State. 

According to a new Public Policy Polling survey, a Democratic-affiliated polling firm that commissioned this poll with Protect Our Care, a significant majority of Pennsylvanians back Wolf’s actions in response to COVID-19, while Trump’s ratings on the issue are under water. 

59% approve of Wolf’s handling of the coronavirus, while 29% disapprove, and 12% said that they are not sure, resulting in Wolf holding a 30 point net approval rating on the matter. 44% of Pennsylvanians said that they approve of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, while 52% disapprove, and 3% said that they are not sure, leaving the president’s net approval rating on the issue at -8 points. This is a 38 point net approval difference between Wolf and Trump on their handling of this specific matter. 

A Fox News poll released on Wednesday afternoon showed Wolf with a 44 net approval rating on the matter, while Trump was 7 points under water. A FOX43/Susquehanna Polling and Research poll released on Thursday showed Wolf with a 50 point net approval rating on his handling on the coronavirus. 

Wolf also holds a significant edge over Trump in his handling of the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. 54% of Pennsylvanians think that Wolf is properly balancing reopening the economy and protecting Pennsylvanians from the coronavirus, while 32% think that he is not, and 14% saying that they are not sure. 42% of Pennsylvanians think that Trump is properly balancing reopening the economy and protecting Pennsylvanians from the coronavirus, while 52% think that he is not properly balancing the two, and 6% saying that they are not sure. 

When asked who Pennsylvanians trusted more to protect them from the coronavirus, 58% selected Wolf, while 35% said they trusted Trump more. 

A majority of Pennsylvanians also say that they are very concerned about the coronavirus, but believe that the nation is currently doing the right thing on social distancing measures. 61% of Pennsylvanians said that they are very concerned about the coronavirus, while 28% said they are somewhat concerned, and 11% said they are not that concerned. Just over half, 54%, think the nation is currently doing the right thing on social distancing, while 27% think the nation needs more aggressive measures, and 17% think we should relax social distancing measures. 

Biden 51, Trump 44

Trump also has work to do against Biden in Pennsylvania in this latest poll. 

Biden leads Trump 51-44 in a poll of Pennsylvania voters, while 5% said that they are not sure. Biden’s lead is beyond the margin of error in this poll. 

The PPP’s polling is very similar to several other polls released this week in Pennsylvania. A Fox News poll shows Biden leading Trump by 8 points, while polling from FOX43/Susquehanna Polling and Research shows Biden besting Trump by 6 points in the Keystone State. 

The Real Clear Politics Average shows Biden besting Trump by 6.7 points in Pennsylvania. This PPP poll remains relatively consistent with the current RCP average, while Biden’s largest lead comes from a Fox News poll released yesterday showing the Scranton native with an 8 point lead in the state and the closest results from a Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll in mid-February showing Biden and Trump deadlocked at 47-47.

Trump vs Biden by the Media Market

Trump bests Biden is several media markets in Pennsylvania, but his massive deficit in the Philadelphia media market puts him behind the former Vice President.

Trump holds a 41 point lead over Biden in the Johnstown market, a 32 point lead in the “other media market,” a 21 point lead in the Erie market, a 6 point edge over Biden in his hometown Scranton media market, a 3 point lead in the Harrisburg market, and dead even in the Pittsburgh market, 47-47. The lone market that Biden carries comfortably is the Philadelphia media market with him holding a 28 point lead over the president. 

Another cause for concern for Trump is his job approval rating and a certain percentage of his supporters from 2016 siding with Biden in 2020. 

While Trump grabs 1% of Clinton supporters in this latest poll, 8% of his voters from 2016 said that they are supporting Biden in the 2020 presidential election. 

44% of Pennsylvanians approve of Trump’s job performance as president, while 53% disapprove, and 3% that are not sure. Trump’s strongest support comes from the Johnstown media market with 70% approving of his job performance there, while just 29% disapprove of him in that market. Trump also has a 22 point net approval rating in the Erie market, a 3 point net approval rating in Scranton market, 2 point net approval rating in the Pittsburgh market, and even at 48-48 in the Harrisburg market. While his numbers hold steady in these specific media markets, plus an “other” category where he holds 27 point net approval rating, he struggles mightily in the largest media market in the state, Philadelphia. Just one third, 33%, of those in the Philadelphia media market approve of Trump’s job performance, while 64% said they disapprove. 

Trump’s COVID-19 Response By Media Market

Mirroring his results by market against his matchup with Biden, most of the media markets in the state give Trump positive reviews on his handling of the coronavirus, but his large disapproval in the southeast puts Trump’s overall rating under water. 

Trump has a 39 point net approval rating of his COVID-19 response in the Johnstown market, a 27 point net approval rating in the “other media market,” 32 point net approval rating in the Erie market, an 8 point net approval rating in the Scranton market, a 3 point net approval rating in the Harrisburg market, and a 1 point net approval rating in the Pittsburgh market. However, Trump is 33 points under water in the Philadelphia market. 

This PPP poll, surveying 1,251 Pennsylvania voters on April 20th and 21st, has a margin of error is +/-2.8%.

The full data can be found here.