BIG PICTURE: THE RACE TODAY. Yesterday we looked at a new poll on the Republican presidential race in the key state of South Carolina. (Short version: Donald Trump is 26 points ahead of Nikki Haley, 58% to 32%.) Now, a look at the national polls for the general election.

First, there’s a question of how to assess things. Should you focus on the Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump one-on-one polls? Or should you focus on three-way polls, Biden vs. Trump vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? Or should you focus on a five-way contest, Biden vs. Trump vs. RFK Jr. vs. Cornel West vs. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate? After all, if they’re all on the ballot, that, and not a clear Biden vs. Trump, is what voters will see. And the presence of the other candidates does make a difference in the support for Biden and Trump. On the other hand, not all those other candidates are going to be on the ballot in all the states. So for now, let’s just stick with the Biden vs. Trump matchup.