Special Poll
A recent poll shows that 56 percent of Democrats believe President Joe Biden should drop out of the 2024 race following his debate performance. Additionally, 85 percent of Americans feel that Biden is too old for a second term.
President Biden attended the NATO Summit in Washington amid these findings, which show his approval rating remains unchanged and his personal favorability is higher than former President Trump’s. However, there are numerous data points in the survey that may not reassure anxious elected Democrats whose support for Biden is wavering.
Half of Americans reported thinking less favorably of Biden due to the debate, with significant concerns about his mental and physical fitness. Trump now holds a 30-point lead over Biden regarding mental sharpness and a 31-point lead on physical health, both increases since April.
Despite these challenges, Biden is still seen by over a third of Americans as more honest and trustworthy, better representing their personal values, and better understanding their problems compared to Trump. However, these traditionally strong figures for Biden are lower than they were four years ago.
The poll also indicates a fractured Democratic coalition regarding the future of the race if Biden steps aside. Seventy percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would be satisfied if Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee, including 85 percent of Black Democrats. Yet, only 29 percent named her as the ideal replacement in an open-ended question, though this is a plurality. Harris maintains a significant lead over the next highest contender, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who polled at 7 percent.
The Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll was conducted online from July 5-9, surveying 2,431 American adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.