Trump vs. Biden

New October polls between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden continue to show a solid lead for the former vice president.

New polls from major polling organizations show an average national lead of 8 percentage points for Biden over Trump in the general election. A poll from The Economist and YouGov shows a favorable 11-point lead for Biden, while a new Emerson poll shows a much closer 5-point lead.

Biden and Trump had their last televised debate on Oct. 22. After the first debate ended in a disjointed, hollow shouting match, the two candidates allowed themselves to speak and contributed to a more cordial final debate. Polls haven't shifted noticeably toward any candidate, however, and that can only benefit Biden as he looks to secure his polling lead heading into the Nov. 3 election. Still, early voting and absentee ballots have contributed to an historic number of votes already cast in the election, with initial counts showing tens of million of Americans have already placed their vote.

As the general election battle reaches its peak, COVID-19 outbreaks are still popping up in the country as schools resume and businesses reopen. Biden has started ramping up advertising campaigns and giving regular socially distanced addresses about the virus and about his policy platform, while Trump continues touring the country holding multiple in-person rallies a day in key swing states.