Can Joe Biden Survive the Rocky Road to Reelection?
Key Highlights :
As the 2021 election approaches, President Joe Biden has seen his poll numbers slip, with recent surveys suggesting he may not be able to secure a second term in the White House. The latest CNN poll released on Tuesday showed Trump leading Biden in a hypothetical 2024 matchup, 49 percent to 45 percent, with a 39 percent approval rating for the president. This follows a New York Times/Siena College poll released Sunday that showed Trump edging out Biden in important battleground states, 48 percent to 44 percent.
These polls have raised concerns about Biden’s chances of reelection, with calls for him to reconsider his campaign. This has been amplified by the potential of independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West to act as spoilers, with Kennedy currently polling at 16 percent in a four-way race. Dean Phillips, a Democrat from Minnesota, has also recently launched a campaign to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination, citing the president’s age and unpopularity.
So, can Joe Biden survive the rocky road to reelection?
Recent polls suggest that Biden’s support is waning, particularly among younger voters, who are now more likely to back Trump. The president’s approval rating has also taken a hit, with only 28 percent of those polled saying things are currently going very or fairly well in the country under Biden’s presidency. Furthermore, only 25 percent of those polled answered “yes” to the question of whether he “has stamina/sharpness,” while 74 percent said “no.”
That said, Biden still has some advantages. He has a strong base of support among Democrats, with 51 percent of them saying he has the sharpness/stamina needed to lead the country. He also maintains a lead in a hypothetical matchup with Trump, albeit a slim one, and a Quinnipiac poll puts him ahead of Trump in a four-way race, with 39 percent of the vote to his rival’s 36 percent.
Ultimately, Biden’s success in the upcoming election will depend on his ability to rally his base and convince voters that he is the best choice for the job. He will need to focus on issues that are important to voters, such as the economy, healthcare, and climate change, and make a convincing case that his policies are better than those of his opponents. He will also need to address concerns about his age and sharpness, and demonstrate that he has the energy and vision to lead the country.
The road to reelection may be rocky for Joe Biden, but if he can make a compelling case for his candidacy, he may yet be able to secure a second term in the White House.
