Thread by @edokeefe

NEW FROM @CBSNewsPoll: @JoeBiden up 2 in Florida; @realDonaldTrump up 2 in Texas:

In Florida, the contest has tightened since our last poll in July, from 6 points down to 2 now, amid an ebbing — if still sizable — concern about coronavirus, while President Trump has picked up a few more of the state's remaining uncertain voters. cbsnews.com/news/trump-bid…

IMPORTANT: New @CBSNewsPoll’s in FL and TX finished just before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So it remains unknown how a court vacancy might shape the presidential race in these and other states.

The economy continues to be an advantage for the president in Florida, though it's not enough to put him over the top right now. That's partially because the connection between economic outlook and vote is not absolute.

But also in Florida, a majority of likely voters feel @JoeBiden's policies would help people get affordable care, a 21-point gap compared to those who feel @realDonaldTrump’s policies would help them do so.

NOTABLE: In FL & TX, voters feel more positive about efforts to contain the coronavirus now than they did this summer: the percentage who say efforts are going well has ticked up across party lines.

Biden still cutting into Mr. Trump's 2016 margins with Florida seniors. Trump's current margin with them (9 points) is smaller than his 2016 winning margin (17 points). More seniors now feel Biden's COVID would keep them safe than think the president's response did.

MORE TROUBLE FOR BIDEN IN FLORIDA WITH LATINOS? He still leads among them, but he’s down — though not dramatically — 56% today from 61% this summer. His summer number was right about where Hillary Clinton was in 2016, so it's probably a benchmark for Biden.

AND/BUT... He may be down with Florida Latinos, but @JoeBiden’s relatively better standing from Democrats' 2016 levels among White voters, college-degree voters and seniors also contribute to his narrow statewide lead at the moment.

AND YET... Latinos are less likely to vote. Florida's Hispanic voters are a little less likely to say they'll definitely vote than White voters.

RE: SOCIALISM: More Florida Latinos see Biden's policies as right mix of socialism & capitalism (46%) than feel he'd move the country too far to socialism (39%). 42% of Florida Latino voters view socialism at least somewhat negatively, not as negative as among White voters (59%).

Just as with voters overall, age is a factor: Older Hispanic voters have a more negative view of socialism and are more inclined to think Biden would move the country more toward socialism than younger Hispanic voters:

BIDEN AND TEXAS LATINOS: He fares better in the Lone Star State, where Latinos are overwhelmingly Mexican or Chicano. Biden support is a little more widespread and cuts across generational lines. Six in 10 Hispanic likely voters, young and old, currently support Biden.

FULL TOPLINES AND SUCH in the new @CBSNewsPoll of Florida and Texas can be viewed here: cbsnews.com/news/trump-bid…