Recent polling data reveals that President Joe Biden's favorability rating remains relatively low, prompting speculation about potential alternatives for the Democratic party's 2024 presidential nomination. According to a New York Times/Siena College Poll released on Tuesday, approximately half of Democratic primary voters expressed a desire for their party to nominate someone other than Biden for the next presidential election. While an evident majority of 64% of these voters claimed that they intend to vote for Biden, the fact that 50% advocated for a different nominee in 2024 suggests some dissatisfaction within the party.
Notably, these sentiments represent a significant shift compared to previous polling results. In fact, only 45% of Democratic voters supported Biden's renomination, representing an increase from July 2022, when a mere 26% of voters expressed the same sentiment. These findings highlight a notable decline in Biden's standing within his own party.
Furthermore, the poll indicated that Biden's disapproval rating, although slightly higher than his approval rating, has risen since last year. While 39% of registered voters approve of his job performance as President, a majority of 54% expressed their disapproval. In July 2022, the Times/Siena poll found that 33% of voters approved, while 60% disapproved. This implies that Biden continues to face challenges in gaining widespread support and satisfaction from the public.
Additionally, regarding a hypothetical scenario where the 2024 presidential election took place immediately, the poll illustrated a deadlock between Biden and former President Donald Trump. Both candidates received equal levels of support, with 43% of respondents favoring each. This finding indicates that Biden's current standing is not significantly stronger than that of his predecessor.
Despite Biden's relatively low approval ratings, the two declared Democratic candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, are trailing behind him in the polls. Kennedy garnered support from 13% of Democratic voters, while 10% expressed their preference for Williamson.
Biden has acknowledged his low approval rating during an earlier statement this year when discussing his 2024 presidential campaign. He pointed out that this situation is not unique, as many incumbents historically face similar challenges during reelection bids.
In terms of historical context, it is important to note that Biden's current approval rating is lower than all other modern presidents at this stage of their term, excluding Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Trump. Both Carter and Trump, who sought reelection, ultimately failed to secure a second term.
The poll, conducted from July 23-27, 2023, involved 1,329 registered U.S. voters and carries a margin of error of 3.67%. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics surrounding Biden's approval among voters and its implications for the upcoming election.