President Biden’s approval numbers remain stagnant at near-record lows amidst setback after setback.
According to a recent Gallup survey, about 41 percent of U.S. adults approve of President Joe Biden’s job after just over a year in office. The survey echoes previous surveys that show Biden underwater in public opinion.
In a recent poll, 56% of those surveyed disapprove of Biden’s job performance as president. The numbers almost reversed his approval numbers when he took office.
At that time, 57% of surveyed adults said they approved his job performance.
Gallup noted that the president’s average approval rating at this point in his term is lower than all presidents back to the 1950s.
The exception is former President Trump, whose favorability rating was 39.1 percent during the same time period in his term.
Many post-World War II presidents had fifth-quarter averages above 50 percent in their first term. According to Gallup, three presidents — George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and John F. Kennedy — were all above 70 percent.
Biden’s numbers have steadily fallen
President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have fallen steadily since taking office in January 2021. The latest survey corresponds with numbers in other recent polls, showing Biden’s approval numbers hovering around 45 percent.
Biden’s dismal job approval numbers could ultimately impact the midterm elections, where Democrats are fighting to defend slim majorities in the Senate and House.
“While it is possible that Biden’s job approval could increase between now and the fall elections, doing so would go against the historical pattern for second-year presidents,” according to Gallup’s analysts.
“The prospects for significant improvement in Biden’s job approval ratings before the fall midterms seem dim because of the historical record for second-year presidents but because his approval ratings have been stuck in the low 40s for eight months.”
The president has faced several significant challenges since taking office, including rising consumer prices for gas and food, chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, surges in cases amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the surge of migrants trying to cross the southern border with Mexico.
President Biden’s low job approval ratings are a significant threat to the Democratic Party’s chances of maintaining its slim majorities in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
Historically, the parties of unpopular presidents have lost seats in midterm elections, with higher losses of seats when presidents of the same party have job approval ratings below 50%.
Prospects for significant improvements to the president’s job approval ratings seem dim because his job approval has been stuck in the low 40s for eight months.
Given the vital link between how the president’s party performs in the midterm elections and job approval ratings, Biden is likely to have to govern Republican majorities in one or both of the houses of Congress unless his approval rating dramatically improves.
The president’s numbers may improve if he regains support from crucial Democratic constituencies, including Black and Hispanic adults and young adults.
Biden must also improve his standing among Independents in hopes that he can persuade them to vote for Democratic candidates in this fall’s elections.
