Demvoters: Biden too old
Almost two thirds of Democrats do not want President Joe Biden to run for the White House again, according to a poll.
Concern about Biden’s age – he will be 81 at the next election – was the main reason given by Democratic voters who wanted an alternative, even as the president insisted he would try for a second term.
In an atmosphere of widespread discontent at high levels of inflation and violent crime, Biden’s approval rating hit 33%.
Such a low rating has not been seen at this stage of a presidency since 1946, when support for Harry Truman plummeted during widespread strikes and soaring inflation.
More than three quarters of registered voters think the US is moving in the wrong direction, according to the Siena College poll for The New York Times. It said it found that ‘‘a pervasive sense of pessimism spans every corner of the country, every age range and racial group, cities, suburbs and rural areas, as well as both political parties’’.
Donald Trump, 76, who is considering running for a second term, posted on his platform Truth Social: ‘‘There are many people in their 80s, and even 90s, that are as good and sharp as ever. Biden is not one of them. In actuality, life begins at 80!’’ Trump will be 78 at the next election.
An aggregate of polls by the 538 website put Biden’s approval level at 38.4% yesterday, its lowest point. However, in a glimmer of hope for Biden, in a hypothetical 2024 rematch voters nationally said they preferred him over Trump by 44 to 41%.
Perhaps the only way Biden could win a second term is if Trump finally confirms he is running and becomes the Republican candidate. Democratic voters would rally behind their president: in a race between Biden and Trump, 92% would back Biden.
However, independent voters who voted almost two to one for Biden against Trump in 2020 are dissatisfied: more than two thirds disapproved of his performance and nearly half disapproved strongly.
The other crumb of comfort for Biden is that he retains some personal appeal: 39% said they had a favourable impression of him – six points higher than his job approval.
However, the views of younger voters are devastating, with 94 per cent of Democrats under the age of 30 saying they would prefer a different presidential nominee.
Asked why they want a change, Democrats cited age (33%), job performance (32 per cent), ‘‘prefer someone new’’ (12%) and ‘‘not progressive enough’’ (10%).
Only 5% of voters nationally (1% of men, 9% of women) made Roe v Wade their leading issue, placing the economy (20%) top. Gun policies were cited by 10%, after inflation and democracy and division.