“Just 38% of Americans – and only a third of Whites – hold a favorable view of President Biden.”
A new Quinnipiac poll could foreshadow a difficult 2022 election cycle for Democrats as President Biden’s approval sinks lower and the immigration crisis comes to a head. As many as 60,000 migrants are currently lining up on the Mexican side of the border and planning to enter the U.S. in the coming days.
The newly released poll shows just 38% of Americans – and only a third of Whites and 36% of Hispanics – hold a favorable view of President Biden. Biden’s numbers among Independents are particularly bleak, with Independents disapproving of Biden by a two to one margin.
Immigration is now the third most important issue to Americans right behind the economy and the coronavirus – and it is the top issue for Republicans.
What’s more, 45% of Americans now support building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border, and opposition to the wall is the lowest since November 2016 when Quinnipiac first asked the question.
Americans disapprove of Biden 51% to 36% and 43% strongly disapprove
President Biden’s favorable numbers continue to fall, and he now sits at a favorable rating of just 38% and an unfavorable rating of 50%.
Just 36% of Americans approve of the job Biden is doing as president, compared to 51% who disapprove. A full 43% of Americans strongly disapprove of the job Biden is doing, a larger number than approve even somewhat.
“A full 43% of Americans strongly disapprove of the job Biden is doing, a larger number than approve even somewhat.”
Independents disapprove of Biden 56% to 28%, a two to one ratio that could be disastrous for Democrats in the midterm elections and 2024.
“Independents disapprove of the president 56% to 28%, a two to one ratio.”
Immigration is number one issue for Republicans, top three for voters over all
The illegal immigrant crisis on the U.S.-Mexican border has reached a tipping point, and it has now surpassed the economy in importance for Republicans.
Republicans hold immigration as their number one priority, with 28% of GOP voters saying immigration is the most important issue to them followed by the economy (24%), the federal debt (10%) and covid-19 (9%).
Immigration is now the third most important issue for voters overall, coming in just behind the economy and covid-19. Nineteen percent of Americans prioritize the economy, 16% prioritize covid-19, 14% prioritize immigration, and 10% prioritize healthcare.
“Immigration is now the third most important issue for voters overall, coming in just behind the economy and covid-19.”
As for solutions to the immigration crisis, a full 45% of Americans now support building a wall on the southern border, and opposition to the wall is the lowest it has ever been since voters were first asked the question in November 2016. Ninety-one percent of Republicans support the wall, and Independents narrowly favor the wall 48% to 47%.
“Opposition to the wall is the lowest it has eveR been since voters were first asked the question in November 2016.”
Whites favor the wall 54% to 41%, and although Blacks and Hispanics net oppose it, 20% of Blacks and 40% of Hispanics also support the wall. Blacks net oppose the wall 74% to 20%, and Hispanics net oppose it 53% to 40%.
Trump’s favorable rating with Whites is 14 points higher than Biden’s
One of the more damning pieces of information from the Quinnipiac poll is just how terrible Biden is doing with White Americans, especially men.
Biden’s favorable rating with Whites sits at just 33%, 14 points lower than Trump’s. Whites hold an unfavorable view of Biden 58% to 33% and a favorable view of Trump 47% to 45%.
“Biden’s approval rating with Whites sits at just 33%, 14 points lower than Trump’s.”
Biden’s favorable rating with White men is just 25%, but it is 40% with White women. Polling shows that Biden is losing approval with White men, regardless of education level. Between January and September of this year, Biden’s approval rating with college educated White men fell from 50% to 40%, and his approval with non-college White men fell from 40% to 30%.
Overall, white Americans believe 50% to 44% that Trump has had a mainly positive impact on American politics. Although non-college Whites are more likely to say Trump has had a positive impact on American politics (58%), 37% of college-educated whites say the same thing.
Whites also say 48% to 45% that Trump has had a mainly positive impact on the GOP, including 36% of Whites with a college degree.
These numbers highlight the difficulty House Democrats will face in the midterm elections with a significantly unpopular president at the helm of their party. President Biden’s upside-down favorable rating with Whites and two-to-one disapproval rating with Independents are particularly troubling.