US President Joe Biden's popularity plummets to all-time low as he faces a challenge beyond policy
US President Joe Biden’s popularity plummets to all-time low as he faces a challenge beyond policy
NEW DELHI: President Joe Biden finds himself in a tight spot as his approval ratings hit an all-time low of 38 percent, according to a recent Washington Post report. Frustrated by the dip in popularity, Biden convened his inner circle to seek solutions, bemoaning that even his predecessor, Donald Trump, is polling stronger. However, the root of Biden’s unpopularity may lie in the fact that he was never a widely popular figure nationally.
Just two weeks into Biden’s term, the New York Times was noting that while he had a broad positive approval rating, his didn’t come close to that of Barack Obama on inauguration day. His net approval rating was lower than any of his predecessors except Trump.
From the early days of his presidency, signs of Biden’s inherent unpopularity emerged. Despite a brief honeymoon period, his approval ratings began to slide, reaching the current low point. The media initially attributed the decline to various factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Afghanistan withdrawal, legislative drama, and challenges at the border. Inflation was also later blamed, but as it receded, explanations for Biden’s poor numbers became more elusive.
Some experts speculate that Biden’s perceived lack of competence, age, or failure to address a widespread sense of despair could be contributing factors. The truth, however, may be simpler: Biden has never been a highly popular figure. Despite his long tenure in the public eye, including 36 years as a US senator, his appeal was limited to Delaware, a small state with low population density.
Even in previous presidential campaigns, Biden struggled to gain traction, dropping out in 1988 amid a plagiarism scandal and facing low voter favorability in the 2008 and 2020 primaries. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Biden found such low favour among voters that he placed fifth in the Iowa caucuses and then exited. His victory over Trump in 2020 was seen more as a flight to safety for voters wary of a controversial president, rather than an endorsement of Biden’s popularity.
As the White House reportedly plans to polish Biden’s image by showcasing his vigour, the challenge remains significant. Repackaging first-term accomplishments may not be enough to win over the public. While Biden has beaten Trump before, his unpopularity might not matter if voters dislike the alternative enough.
In the face of dwindling approval, Biden could draw inspiration from President Lyndon Johnson’s playbook in 1968, who, facing similar challenges, chose to drop out of the presidential contest, eventually regaining a 50 percent approval rating. Whether Biden can turn the tide before the next election remains uncertain.
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