US President Joe Biden's public approval rating plummeted this month to an almost two-year record low, shows a study by Reuters/Ipsos, BTA reported.
According to a four-day poll that ended Monday, only 36% of Americans approve of his job as president, down from 38% in April. This brings his approval rating back to all-time lows since he was president, which were last measured in July 2022.
And while this month's drop is within a 3% margin of error, these poor numbers could ultimately hurt the Democrat's re-election chances ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, in which he will face the Republican Donald Trump, notes Reuters.
Recent polls of voter attitudes suggest that Biden and Trump are in a tight race to win over voters. But according to many studies, the Republican has a slight lead precisely in those states that are believed to be most likely to be decisive for the outcome of the race for the White House.
Data from the Reuters/Ipsos survey outlines several weaknesses, but also some strengths, for Biden. According to survey participants, the most important issue to them is the economy, which was cited as the number one issue facing the US by 23% of respondents. In second place with about 21% comes political extremism, and in third place with 13% - immigration.
About 40% are of the opinion that Trump, who was president from 2017 to 2021, led a better economic policy, while with Biden this share was 30%; the rest cannot judge.
Trump also has a significant lead on immigration, with 42% favoring his approach to 25% favoring Biden.
The Democrat has a modest lead on the topic of political extremism, where he has the approval of 34% of those polled compared to 30% who think Trump is doing better in this area.
Participants in the survey are also of the opinion that the Republican has shown a more skillful approach to international conflicts and terrorism (36%). Biden's policy enjoys the approval of 29% on this indicator.
The current state of the American economy is one of the factors that give the Democrat hope that he will be re-elected.
Voters have been hit by several years of soaring consumer prices, but inflation has eased significantly in recent months and unemployment has been below 4% for more than two years. The age of Biden, who is 81 years old, is also a problem for voters.
Another Reuters/Ipsos poll released earlier this month showed the president suffering disapproval among many Democratic supporters of his response to Israel's war against Hamas militants. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll did not examine this issue, which is particularly polarizing for Democrats.
On the other hand, Trump, 77, is accused in four cases, including one of buying silence, which is expected to end next week. The Republican is also set to stand trial in two more trials related to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Biden.
He then falsely claimed that his defeat was due to fraud. He included this claim in an emotional speech shortly before hundreds of his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Five people died, Reuters noted.