Poll finds Trump’s felony conviction boosts his popularity in Tennessee

In Tennessee, Donald Trump is the preferable candidate over Joe Biden in this November’s presidential election, according to a new poll conducted by a watchdog group. This comes despite the former president’s recent felony conviction.

According to a report from WZTV in Nashville, the Beacon Center of Tennessee found Trump’s hush money guilty verdict made 34% of Tennesseans more likely to vote for the Republican candidate. Only 22% are less likely to cast their vote for Trump.

“The numbers on Trump’s guilty conviction are fascinating and in some ways counterintuitive,” Beacon Center’s Mark Cunningham said. ” A substantial percentage of Tennesseans believe that the charges were political but also believe he did commit a felony.”

40% said the outcome of Trump’s trial won’t have an impact on their vote.

The poll puts Trump in a 30-point lead over President Biden in a three-way race that includes Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“While some voters who say they are more likely to vote for Trump after the conviction were already Trump voters, it’s clear that Trump did gain a number of voters since the last poll, with the lion’s share defecting from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,” Cunningham added.

The Beacon Center says while most Tennesseans believe the charges against Trump were political, “it is essentially split down the middle on whether he was guilty of a felony, with 38% believing he is guilty and 41% saying he is not guilty.”

Read the full poll here.