AUSTIN, Texas -- A 50-50 split: that's how Texas voters feel about re-electing President Donald Trump, according to a University of Texas, Texas Tribune poll released Monday. It also found Democratic voters in the state favor Joe Biden and Beto O'Rourke.
- Poll finds Texans split on President Donald Trump
- Indepdents largely not in favor of Trump
- Biden, O'Rourke considered Texas Democratic frontrunners
Jim Henson co-directed the new University of Texas, Texas Tribune poll and says he was surprised to see the historically red state as a toss-up.
"Just the sheer evenness of the division on re-electing Donald Trump when faced with an unnamed opponent. That's as close to a 50-50 split as we've ever gotten on anything," said Henson.
While it's still early, Henson says the worrisome result for Trump in the poll is how he fares with independents. Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would not vote for him if the election was held today.
"Independents are actually more negative towards Trump right now than we've seen them in the past. Basically it's a 40-60 split against the president. Independents, however, move around a lot," said Henson.
The poll also took a snapshot of how Democratic voters feel about their crowded field of 2020 candidates. Topping that list is former Vice President Joe Biden at 23 percent. Coming in second, Texas' former Rep. Beto O'Rourke with 15 percent. Also getting double digits were Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
"We put all 23 candidates on the ballot. We found that, you know, only 10 were even recognized by 50 percent or more," said Henson.
That includes the other Texan in the race, Julian Castro, but barely.
"Right now they're just ignoring me," said Castro, who came in seventh with just 3 percent.
"I think that Julian Castro really needs to gain some traction soon or the candidacy is going to kind of lose its gas," said Henson.
Not losing gas is the war of words between President Trump and the Democratic frontrunner.
"When a man has to mention my name 76 times in a speech, that means he's in trouble," said Trump of Joe Biden.
But at a rally of his own, Biden fired back, saying: "I believe that the president is literally an existential threat to America."
It's early, but even the possibility that Texas could be in play in 2020 will continue to keep a major focus on the Lone Star State.
Both Texas candidates will compete in night one of next week's first Democratic presidential debates. The two-day event in Miami will feature the 20 candidates who qualified.
We'll be there to bring you live coverage throughout the two-days of debates.