4 theories behind Biden's 'underwater' polling numbers
President Biden's polling numbers are down — way down — warranting descriptions like "underwater" and "brutal." A recent Quinnipiac University poll found the president "battered on trust, doubted on leadership, and challenged on overall competency," with an approval rating of just 38 percent.
What explanations are there for this damaging dip? Politico attributes the confidence drop-off to the pandemic and its continued presence in the lives of Americans who believed things would be better by now. "There is a malaise," said Sarah Longwell, who led a focus group of COVID-frustrated Pennsylvania Democrats. "People don't feel like their lives have been improved. They did sort of feel that promises aren't being kept."
Frustration might also stem from stalled police reform and voting rights negotiations, as well as disturbing images of Haitian immigrants, sent back their country by way of horse-mounted border agents and a Trump-era immigration policy, suggests The Washington Post. Notably (and unfortunately), that resentment is coming from Biden's key Democratic constituencies, including Black Americans, Latinos, many women, and young people. "I think the frustration is at an all-time high," said activist W. Mondale Robinson. "Black men are pissed off about the nothingness that has happened ... Does it make the work harder? It makes the work damn near impossible."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other Americans seem to think Biden generally incompetent and his White House not "up to daunting challenges," reports The Hill, citing the Quinnipiac poll.
But some, like James Joyner at Outside the Beltway, argue the depressed polling is a result of issues outside of the president's control. Even though his "benefit of the doubt" period may be ending, and it's no longer enough for him to simply not be his predecessor, Joyner writes, "the president can only do so much."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Jersey first lady exits race to replace Menendez
Speed Read Tammy Murphy dropping out paves the way for Rep. Andy Kim to become the state's next senator
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly ISIS Moscow attack
Speed Read Putin has ignored the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the concert hall shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A "conservative voice" does not spread misinformation for political advantage'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published