Janice R. Andrews
In a shocking reversal of events, a recent poll found that 60% of Americans think President Joe Biden is unqualified to hold office for another term. This information comes after what many have considered to be a dismal debate performance, but the 2024 presidential fight is still very close between the former president Donald Trump and the candidate, underscoring a distinct and unparalleled electoral environment.
Exposing Biden’s Vulnerabilities:
Never before has President Biden’s frailty been so obvious. Just 24% of respondents to a survey of 1,754 adult Americans conducted between June 28 and July 1 said they thought Biden was qualified to serve another term. He has only once had his fitness grade this low—in November 2023—so this represents a dramatic drop. Public confidence has been further undermined by the president’s performance in the recent debate, which appears to have confirmed long-standing worries about his age and ability.
An Abortive Discussion for Biden:
The debate’s numerical results are instructive. A little over 74% of Americans said they saw the discussion (56%) or saw enough videos to make an informed decision (18%). 84% of voters who were registered participated in the discussion in some way. Of those in this group, the majority (57%) said Trump was the winner while only 16% said Biden was.
This difference is especially noticeable, even in a time of extreme political division. To put things in perspective, during the 2020 debates, it was thought that Biden had defeated Trump in their first meeting by a margin of 43% to 27% and that he had defeated him once more in their second debate (48% to 41%). However, the majority of Americans did not select Biden as the winner in each case.
Negative Perceptions of Biden’s Performance:
The feedback from voters who watched the debate paints a grim picture for Biden:
- 63% rated Biden’s performance as “poor”
- 21% rated it as “fair”
- This culminates in a combined negative performance rating of 84%, with only 16% rating his performance as excellent or good.
In contrast, half of the voters familiar with the debate rated Trump’s performance as excellent or good (50%), with the other half rating it fair or poor (50%). This is a significant improvement from the 25% and 75%, respectively, who said the same after the first 2020 debate.
Adverse Views Regarding Biden’s Operation:
The comments left by viewers of the debate present a dire picture for Biden:
Biden’s performance was deemed “poor” by 63%.
21% thought it was “fair.”
As a result, 84% of respondents rated his performance negatively, with only 16% considering it good or exceptional.
On the other hand, 50% of voters who were aware of the debate gave Trump’s performance an excellent or good grade, while 50% gave it a fair or mediocre rating. Comparing this to the 25% and 75% of respondents who claimed the same following the first 2020 debate, respectively, is a huge improvement.
A Negative Change in Biden’s Reputation:
The discussion has severely tarnished Biden’s reputation:
51% of Americans claimed that after the debate, they had a negative opinion of Biden.
Merely 12% claimed that it made them think better of him.
In contrast, Trump’s percentages were split evenly between poorer (27%) and better (29%).
Out of those surveyed, 58% selected Trump and only 15% selected Biden as the candidate who appeared more “coherent” during the debate. Comparatively speaking, they thought that Trump was stronger (59%) and more presidential (45%) than Biden (17% and 37%, respectively).
Public Opinion in Discussion:
The debate left an extremely bad impression:
61% said it was “embarrassing.”
49% said it was “painful.”
43% thought it was “scary.”
These unfavorable opinions were thought to be more caused by Biden’s actions.
Low Level of Support for Trump:
Trump has only once topped 45% in recent polls, suggesting that his popularity is restricted. Given that he has never won more than 47% of the vote in a presidential election, this points to a hard ceiling on his potential support. As such, there is still a tie in the two-way contest between two unpopular candidates.
Biden’s Suitability Is in Question:
The discussion has raised concerns about Biden’s suitability for office:
Biden’s support for a second term is at only 24%, down from 29% at the beginning of June.
Up from 56%, 60% now believe he is unfit.
As a result, there is currently a 20-point difference in Trump’s fitness score compared to Biden’s. Biden’s fitness rating among Democrats has fallen to a record low of 53%.
Doubts Regarding Biden’s Age:
Biden’s age is now seen as a major issue by 56% of Americans, up six percentage points since early June. Furthermore, only 28% think he’s capable of handling the difficulties the United States faces, while 65% feel he is too old for another term.
Views on whether Biden’s age or Trump’s criminal convictions are a greater concern have also changed as a result of the debate. Compared to Biden’s age (38%), more Americans (43%) thought that Trump’s claims were a bigger issue before the debate. These figures have since reversed to 38% and 42%, respectively, following the debate.
Rumors that Biden will withdraw:
There is conjecture that Biden may withdraw from the race and hand the candidacy to a younger Democrat as a result of the post-debate angst. Although Biden maintains his candidacy, only 45% of Democrats and Democrats leaning Democratic currently support him, down from 55% in the beginning.
Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters choose “someone else” (42%) over Vice President Kamala Harris (38%) as the nominee in the event that Biden withdraws.
In summary:
Both Biden and Trump are up against formidable obstacles in the 2024 presidential contest, which is still too close to declare. Biden’s dismal debate performance has raised questions about his suitability for leadership, while Trump finds it difficult to win over new supporters. The dynamics of this hotly contested race will change further as the election draws near.
