AP-NORC poll: Americans largely back Biden’s coronavirus response

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden is enjoying a presidential honeymoon, with 60% of Americans approvingof his job performance so far and even more backing hishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for PublicAffairs Research.

At a moment of deep polarization, support for Mr. Biden’s pandemic response extends across party lines. Overall, 70% of Americans back the Democratic president’s virus response, including44% of Republicans.

Still, Mr. Biden faces more skepticism from Americans on the economy, which has been battered by the pandemic. Fifty-five percent of Americans approve of his approach to the economy, and 63% say the U.S. economy is in poor shape, the AP-NORC survey shows. Republicans are less likely to back Mr. Biden on the economy than they are on the pandemic, with just 17% supporting his fiscal stewardship.

Mr. Biden has made the pandemic his central focus, urging Americans to follow social distancing and mask guidelines while vowing to speed up distribution of critical COVID-19 vaccines.

He’s argued that until the spread of the coronavirus is under control, the economy won’t fully recover.

To address financial shortfalls in the meantime, he’s asking Congress to pass a $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue plan that would provide direct payments to millions of Americans and surge funds into state and local governments.

The measure has already passed the House. But Mr. Biden is having to make compromises to keep all 50 Democratic senators in support of the measure, including agreeing this week to narrow eligibility for $1,400 stimulus checks.