Washington DC, United States

Nearly 50 per cent of Independent voters in the upcoming United States presidential election said they want former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to drop out of the race for the White House after he was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his criminal hush money case, according to a new poll, on Saturday (Jun 1). 

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What did the new poll find?

The poll, which was conducted by the Morning Consult, on Friday (May 31) gave one of the first reaction of American voters after Trump was found guilty by a jury in New York on all 34 charges stemming from $130,000 in hush money paid to the adult film actress, Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. 

On Thursday (May 30), Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a crime, and with just nearly five months to go for the upcoming elections, voters, according to the polls, are not reacting well to the unprecedented situation. 

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Also Read | Trump becomes first former US president to be convicted following verdict in hush money trial

The polls show that 54 per cent of registered voters “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the guilty verdict, while 34 per cent “strongly” or “somewhat” disapproved of it. 

Meanwhile, 49 per cent of Independents, 15 per cent of Republicans, and eight per cent of self-proclaimed supporters of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee believe that Trump should end his presidential campaign, according to the poll. 

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The report also shows that the race between Trump and his successor Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has now effectively tied nationally. According to the poll, Biden had 45 per cent support, compared to Trump’s 44 per cent after the verdict. 

The Morning Consult also asked voters what should happen to the former president now that he has been convicted, to which 49 per cent said that he should be sentenced to probation, while 44 per cent said he should be given a prison sentence. 

Around 68 per cent, according to the poll, said that he should be fined. 

One in 10 Republicans less likely to vote for Trump

Ten per cent of Republican registered voters said they are less likely to vote for Trump after his guilty verdict, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that also closed on Friday.

Also Read | Hush money case: Trump campaign announces $35mn fundraising haul after guilty verdict

According to the report, the two-day poll, which was conducted hours after the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was convicted, found 56 per cent of Republican registered voters said the case would not affect their vote. 

Meanwhile, 35 per cent of Republican registered voters according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll were more likely to support the former president. 

The poll, which surveyed 2,556 American adults across the country, also said that if elections were held today, 41 per cent said they would vote for Biden, while 39 per cent said that they would support Trump, in yet another indicator that the November 5 election will be locked in a tight race. 

Trump vows to appeal

The former president, in a speech on Friday, said that he would appeal his guilty conviction amid rambling remarks at the Trump Tower lobby in Manhattan and complaints that the trial was “rigged”. 

Trump will have 30 days from the date of his July 11 sentencing to file a notice of appeal.

(With inputs from agencies)