Poll: 50 percent of voters really hate Trump. Only 27 percent really hate Biden.
A significantly lower percentage of voters strongly dislike presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden than strongly dislike President Trump, according to a new national poll.
In a poll of registered voters from The New York Times and Siena College published on Wednesday, Biden holds a 14-point lead over Trump, and the survey suggests Biden is a "broadly acceptable candidate who inspires relatively few strong feelings in either direction," the Times observes.
After all, although 50 percent of registered voters in the poll said they have a very unfavorable impression of Trump, only 27 percent said they have a very unfavorable impression of Biden. This is compared to 26 percent who said they have a very favorable impression of Biden. For Trump, 27 percent of voters view him very favorably.
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.
The Times' Alex Burns observes that Biden has such a big lead over Trump not "because of his own runaway popularity," but "because he's broadly acceptable as an alternative to a strongly disliked incumbent."
Meanwhile, the Times' Ben Smith points to these numbers as evidence that Trump's go-to nickname used to attack Biden — "Sleepy Joe" — hasn't been particularly effective and "seems to have been a massive error," as "the contrast with erratic, late night rage-tweeting is built in." Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer previously made a similar point, writing, "The name 'Sleepy' Joe Biden should be retired" since "it's not working for Trump."
The poll was conducted by speaking to 1,337 registered voters from June 17-22. The margin of error is three percentage points. Read more at The New York Times.
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why are home insurance prices going up?
Today's Big Question Climate-driven weather events are raising insurers' costs
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'All too often, we get caught up in tunnel vision'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of legacy media failures
In the Spotlight From election criticism to continued layoffs, the media has had it rough in 2024
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published