In a poll conducted over the weekend for Yahoo News, YouGov quizzed nearly 1,700 American adults on many issues. The most glaring result is the one least surprising: Biden continues to fade among those polled. But for the first time, more Democrats want someone other than Biden to run for president in 2024, 41 percent to 35 percent.
When asked “Who would you rather see as the Democratic nominee for President in 2024?” Democrats and Independents who lean Democrat could only name Vice President Kamala Harris, but with an extraordinary lack of enthusiasm, at 19 percent. “Someone else” scored higher, at 20 percent, while “not sure” came in at 30 percent.
The poll results were merciless. When asked, “Would you say things in this country are generally headed in the right direction?,” just 15 percent agreed, while 72 percent disagreed. When asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way … Biden is handling the economy?,” 30 percent approved while 60 percent disapproved — a two-to-one disapproval ratio.
On crime, Biden scored just as poorly. Question: “Do you approve or disapprove of the way … Biden is handling crime?” Response: 31 percent approved; 52 percent disapproved.
On inflation, Biden scored worse. Question: “Do you approve or disapprove of the way … Biden is handling inflation?” Response: 26 percent approved; 63 percent disapproved.
When asked if Biden “has been a better or worse president than you expected?” just 12 percent said better, while 44 percent said worse.
The biggest question of all: “Do you think Joe Biden is up to the challenges facing the U.S.?” Response: 27 percent said yes; 56 percent said no.
YouGov quizzed its people on Biden’s leadership qualities. On “strength” he scored a 40, down 15 points from May. On “competence” he scored a 52, down 12 points from May. On “intelligence” he scored a 56, down five points from May.
Biden is already the oldest president ever elected in the nation’s history. In November, he turns 80. It’s no wonder that YouGov learned that fewer than one out of five surveyed want him to run for reelection in 2024. Nearly two out of three (64 percent) told YouGov that Biden should bow out.
With the 2024 presidential election more than two years away, it’s a little early to make predictions about whom the Democrats will find to replace the aging White House occupant. But that’s not keeping California Governor Gavin Newsom from making his move: He’s already running ads in Florida challenging one of the potential Republican nominees, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Now, however, Newsom isn’t even showing up in the YouGov poll, while DeSantis comes in behind Trump, 29 percent to 50 percent, as the Republican nominee for president in 2024.
