President Joe Biden has faced declining approval ratings since the early months of his second year in office, as persistent inflation, rising living costs, and volatile fuel prices have eroded public confidence. Ongoing domestic and global challenges have further contributed to voter skepticism about his leadership, particularly on economic matters.
Recent polling suggests that these trends could benefit Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, potentially enabling them to reclaim control of the House and improve their standing in the Senate.
A month-long survey by CNN revealed that Biden’s overall approval stood at 38%, with even lower marks on economic stewardship—30% for managing the economy and just 25% on handling inflation. These figures underscore growing frustration among Americans who feel financial strain due to prolonged price increases.
Inflation and affordability concerns now dominate voter priorities, with 75% identifying them as the most pressing economic issue—a significant rise from 43% the previous summer. This shift reflects deepening unease about household budgets and long-term financial stability.
Additional data from a New York Times/Siena College poll echoed these findings, showing that economic anxiety is driving a loss of support for the president. Notably, 64% of Democratic voters expressed a preference for a different nominee in the 2024 presidential race. When including all registered voters, over three-quarters believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction.
Despite this dissatisfaction, Biden retains an edge over former President Donald Trump in hypothetical matchups. One survey indicated a narrow lead of 44% to 41% in a potential rematch, with over 90% of Democrats stating they would back Biden rather than support Trump.
A CNBC poll conducted earlier this month found that disapproval of Biden’s performance is higher than at comparable points in the presidencies of Barack Obama and Trump. His rating on economic management stood at 30%, and more than half of respondents anticipated worsening conditions ahead.
While the outlook appears challenging for 2024, there remains time for a shift in public perception. Historically, first-term presidents often face backlash from voters seeking change, regardless of specific policy outcomes.
The administration has emphasized positive indicators such as a robust labor market and historically low unemployment, arguing that job growth continues despite economic headwinds and tightening monetary policy by the Federal Reserve.
However, reversing negative sentiment will likely depend on tangible improvements in inflation and fuel prices—factors largely outside presidential control. Still, the White House has highlighted recent developments, including a drop in gasoline prices by about 40 cents per gallon since mid-June, which it says has provided some relief to families.
“Energy prices accounted for nearly half of the monthly inflation increase,” Biden noted when the latest data was released. “The recent decline in gas prices hasn’t yet been fully reflected in the numbers, and other commodities like wheat have also seen notable decreases.”
— news from KEYE
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Biden by the numbers: Polling finds president underwater in approval, economic leadership
President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have been in a steady decline since months after his first year in office as inflation, economic concerns, high gas prices and international turmoil have rocked voters’ confidence in him. n nBiden’s weakening standing is one of the biggest factors in why Republicans are expected to regain a majority in the House and have favorable odds of doing the same in the Senate during the November midterms. n nPolling conducted over the last several weeks has found even more grim news for the White House. n nA poll by CNN conducted over the course of a month found Biden’s approval rating at 38%, with even lower ratings on his handling of the economy. His approval on the economy was just 30% and 25% for inflation. n nThe lengthening period of sustained inflation and high prices has been a sore spot for Biden and Democrats in Congress as voters increasingly blame them for having a more difficult time making ends meet. Three out of four voters said inflation and cost of living were the most important economic problem, compared to 43% last summer. n nA New York Times/Siena College poll released earlier this month told a similar story: Biden is bleeding support due to widespread concern about the economy. n nEven Democratic voters are looking for a change, with 64% saying they would prefer a new candidate for the 2024 election. Expanded to all demographics, over three-quarters of registered voters said the U.S. is moving in the wrong direction. n nOne of the few glimmers of good news from public polling for Biden is that voters, especially Democrats who are unsatisfied with his job performance, still favor him over former President Donald Trump, who is mulling another presidential bid in 2024. The survey found Biden winning a rematch 44% to 41%. Over 90% of Democrats said they’d stick with Biden over voting for Trump. n nA CNBC poll conducted earlier this month found dissatisfaction with Biden at a higher level than at any point during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Trump. Biden’s handling of the economy fell to 30% in the poll, with more than half of respondents saying they expect things to get worse. n nAll indications lead to an uphill climb for Biden in 2024, though there is still time for him to change perceptions. It’s also common for voters to revolt against a president and the ruling party in Congress during their first term in office. Few presidents who came into office with a majority in Congress have been able to hold onto it regardless of the circumstances surrounding voters wanting change. n nThe White House has tried to change the gloomy narrative on the economy by focusing on the strong labor market that has unemployment near all-time lows as businesses continue to add jobs despite hurdles in hiring and fears of a looming recession as the Federal Reserve tries to crack down on inflation. n nIt will be difficult for Biden to overcome pessimistic attitudes about the economy without inflation and high gas prices evaporating, as the president has very little control over what happens to both issues. n nThat hasn’t prevented the White House from trying to take an optimistic approach, saying things have improved since the latest inflation report found a 9.1% increase from last year. n n“Energy alone comprised nearly half of the monthly increase in inflation,” Biden said when the report was released. “Today’s data does not reflect the full impact of nearly 30 days of decreases in gas prices, that have reduced the price at the pump by about 40 cents since mid-June. Those savings are providing important breathing room for American families. And, other commodities like wheat have fallen sharply since this report.”