Staff Reports
The week has been full of big polls, and there’s been some eye-opening information about how young people feel about President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War. This is important because young voters were a crucial part of Biden’s victory in 2020. According to the CBS News/YouGov poll, there’s been a significant drop in support for Biden’s handling of the conflict among respondents ages 18-29. Back in February, 51 percent of them approved, but now only 40 percent do. Overall, Biden’s approval rating stands at 40 percent, down from 42 percent in February.
The CBS News poll also revealed that an increasing number of Democrats, especially young respondents, are sympathizing with Palestinians and want Biden to urge Israel to halt its military actions. This could be putting pressure on Biden’s numbers as young voters and Democrats are crucial for him to win re-election.
How Low Can Biden Go in the Polls With Key Demographics? https://t.co/R1tJhM9wGy
— Urban Cockroach (@ajn1130) April 17, 2024
Another key finding from the polls is that the economy is still a major concern for voters. Thirty-one percent of respondents rated the economy as “fairly bad,” and 30 percent said it’s “very bad.” Only 39 percent approve of how Biden is managing the economy, and even fewer, 34 percent, approve of his handling of inflation. The majority of respondents expect the economy to either slow down or go into a recession next year. Additionally, many respondents who felt negatively about the state of the country attributed it to the economy and the state of U.S. politics.
The New York Times/Siena College poll also revealed that young voters prefer President Trump over Biden by a narrow margin, with 46 percent favoring Trump and 45 percent favoring Biden. This is concerning for Biden as he needs the support of young voters to win in the next election.
Overall, these polls suggest that Biden is losing support among young voters and Democrats, while the economy remains a top concern for the American people. As the general election approaches, it’s clear that Biden will need to address these issues in order to have a chance at winning re-election.
