Haley would have the best chance of winning against Biden in hypothetical match, a poll found

WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden would most likely lose against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in a hypothetical match, a new poll found.

The CNN poll - conducted by SSRS from Aug. 25 to Aug. 31 - found that 49% of voters nationwide would be more likely to vote for Haley if she were the Republican nominee while only 43% of voters would support Biden. Several of the top GOP candidates were neck-and-neck with Biden in the poll.

Former President Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner, held a slight edge over Biden with 47% of voters saying they would support him and 46% for Biden. Former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott both topped Biden 46% to 44 %, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would win the support of 44% of voters compared to Biden’s 42% according to poll data.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Biden tied with 47% each.

Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is the only candidate who polled lower than Biden in a matchup, getting the support of 45% of voters to Biden’s 46%.

The poll's margin of sampling error for total respondents was plus or minus 3.5%.

Biden’s low support likely has to do with his age, the poll found. 49% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent voters said their biggest concern with Biden was his age. 56% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Independent voters said that they were “seriously concerned” about the 80-year-old's physical and mental competence.

Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, previously told USA TODAY that even if Biden's age has not affected his ability to do the job, "some members of the public may nonetheless believe he is not mentally sharp enough or that he lacks the necessary physical stamina.”

Biden, who remains the Democratic frontrunner, has also dismissed concerns about his age in remarks he gave at the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 in Philadelphia last week.

"I can — and, you know, the only thing that comes with age is a little bit of wisdom. I — but I — I’ve been doing this longer than anybody," Biden said. "And guess what? I’m going to continue to do it with your help."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who has the best chance of beating Biden in a match? Voters choose Haley