AJC poll: Trump leads Biden in Georgia ahead of first presidential debate

Former President Trump holds a slight edge over President Biden in Georgia despite his historic felony conviction , according to a new Atlanta-Journal Constitution/University of Georgia poll .

Why it matters: The poll of likely Georgia voters, released Tuesday, shows Trump leading Biden 43% to 38% — just outside the margin of error — days before the former and current presidents are set to face off in Atlanta for the first 2024 debate .

Meanwhile, a case involving Trump's election interference efforts in Georgia is paused until at least October , while an appeals court considers whether Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis can stay on the case.

Between the lines: 9% of voters polled said they would vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has not yet qualified to appear on the Georgia ballot but is expected to.

• 8% of participants said they are undecided.

What we're watching: About 70% of voters polled say they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. More young voters polled said the country is "on the wrong track" compared to any other age group.

The fine print: The poll was conducted June 11-22 and included 1,000 voters.

Disclosure: The AJC and Axios are both owned by Cox Enterprises, but Axios did not participate in the administration of the poll.