The latest poll on President Joe Biden’s approval rating has revealed that his favorability remains at a concerning 39%. The poll, conducted by the New York Times/Siena College, sheds light on the sentiments of Democratic primary voters, and the results are striking. A staggering 50% of Democratic primary voters are voicing their belief that the party should consider nominating a different candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
Despite this notable disapproval, there are still encouraging signs for Biden. Approximately 64% of Democratic primary voters expressed their intention to vote for Biden in the upcoming election. However, the fact that half of the party is calling for an alternative candidate suggests a level of internal dissent and uncertainty.
The poll’s data indicates that President Biden’s approval rating has experienced a notable uptick compared to the previous year. In July 2022, only 26% of voters advocated for Biden’s renomination, whereas now, that number has risen to 45%. Although this may appear to be an improvement, it’s still a cause for concern, given the widespread expectations for an incumbent president’s support from his party.
In terms of overall approval ratings, 39% of registered voters approve of President Biden’s handling of his job as president. On the other hand, a majority, 54%, disapprove. Compared to July 2022, his approval rating has increased slightly from 33% to the current 39%, but his disapproval rating remains higher than his approval rating. This suggests that while some may be warming up to his performance, there is still significant discontent among voters.
Comparing his performance to that of other modern presidents at similar points in their terms, President Biden’s approval rating is lower than all but a few. Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Donald Trump are the only other presidents who faced similarly low approval ratings by this stage of their tenure.
Interestingly, the poll also revealed intriguing findings regarding hypothetical matchups for the 2024 presidential election. If the election were held today, President Biden would be tied at 43% with former President Donald Trump. These numbers highlight the competitiveness and uncertainty surrounding the potential outcome of the upcoming election.
In terms of the other Democratic candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, they are both trailing behind Biden. Kennedy received the support of 13% of Democratic voters in the primary, while Williamson garnered the backing of 10%. Despite Biden’s less-than-ideal approval ratings, it seems that the other declared candidates are still facing an uphill battle in securing greater support within the party.
A total of 1,329 registered voters in the United States were surveyed between July 23 and July 27, 2023. The margin of error for the survey is 3.67%. These results provide a snapshot of the current political landscape, but much could change in the coming months, with the election still some time away.
Biden himself addressed his approval rating earlier this year, acknowledging that it was not unique for a sitting president seeking reelection to face such challenges. However, the poll’s findings underscore the need for him and his party to address the concerns and reservations voiced by voters and work to strengthen their position in the upcoming election.