Your Daily Polling Update for Monday, August 23, 2021
BIDEN JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 47%
Up 1 from Saturday
RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on three polls, ranging from 46% (Reuters, Rasmussen) to 50% (CBS News). Biden’s disapproval rating averages 51% today (+1 from Saturday).
MICHIGAN: GOVERNOR 2022
Among voters statewide
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) over James Craig (R): +1 (45-44)
RON’S COMMENT: Incumbent Whitmer has a fight on her hands if former Detroit police chief Craig runs against her––and he’s expected to announce soon that he will. Though Craig is running about even, the poll shows 52% of voters don’t know him…. Said the pollster about Whitmer’s poll position: “Any time you have a dead-even match with a Republican who is unknown by more than half the voters, you should be concerned about that.”
BIDEN ISSUE APPROVAL
Among adults nationwide
Now, for each of the following please tell me if you approve or disapprove of President Biden’s handling of each item….
% = Approve/Disapprove
The situation in Afghanistan: 25%/60%
The economy: 47%/49%
The coronavirus: 53%/44%
RON’S COMMENT: This poll shows that only 25% of Americans approve of the way Biden is handling the situation in Afghanistan…. It also shows that:
- Biden’s approval rating on the coronavirus is down 16 pointssince April.
- Biden’s approval rating on the economy is down 5 points since April, and it’s now upside down by 2 points.
- Among independents, Biden’s approval on the economy has dropped 15 points since April and his approval on handling the pandemic has dropped a dramatic 29 points.
- Adding to Biden’s problems on the coronavirus, most Americans are feeling pessimistic about the pandemic: 42% believe “the worst is to yet to come,” while 37% say “the worst is behind us.”
- A separate poll sponsored by CBS News finds that 74% of Americans believe the removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has gone badly––and that 67% do not believe that Biden has a clear plan to evacuate U.S. civilians.
AFGHANISTAN WAR
Among adults nationwide
When it comes to Afghanistan, do you think the war was worth it or not worth it?
Worth it: 29%
Not worth it: 61%
RON’S COMMENT: Voters by a big margin believe the war in Afghanistan was not worth it.
PERSONAL RATINGS
Among adults nationwide
% = Positive/Negative (Neutral)
Joe Biden: 43%/44% (12%)
Kamala Harris: 37%/46% (13%)
Donald Trump: 38%/49% (13%)
RON’S COMMENT: Biden’s positive rating is down 7 points since April and his negative rating is up 8 points. Overall, his personal rating is now slightly underwater…. Harris’ ratings are worse than Biden’s..… One note of solace for Democrats––despite Biden’s decline, he’s still doing better than Trump.
% = Positive/Negative (Neutral)
Elon Musk: 26%/21% (30%)
Jeff Bezos: 14%/35% (30%)
RON’S COMMENT: Musk’s personal rating is net positive, but Bezos is substantially net negative.
CONGRESS: PARTY BALLOT
Among voters nationwide
What is your preference for the outcome of next year’s congressional elections––a Congress controlled by Republicans or a Congress controlled by Democrats?
Democrat-controlled: 47%
Republican-controlled: 46%
Not sure: 7%
RON’S COMMENT: In April, this NBC News poll showed Democrats with a 5-point advantage. That edge has since slipped to 1-point…. Amongindependents––the voters most likely to decide which party controls the two houses of Congress––Republicans now lead by 1 point. That’s a big change from April, when Democrats were leading by 14 points.
RIGHT DIRECTION, WRONG TRACK
Among adults nationwide
Now, all in all, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel things are off on the wrong track?
Headed in the right direction: 29%
Off on the wrong track: 63%
RON’S COMMENT: Since April, the wrong track number went up 7 points in this NBC poll and the right direction number went down 7 points…. This poll also shows that 54% of voters say they’re “mainly worried and pessimistic” while 44% say they’re “mainly hopeful and optimistic.”
SOURCES
Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
MICHIGAN: EPIC-MRA/Detroit Free Press, Aug. 9-15
RIGHT DIRECTION, WRONG TRACK, CONGRESS: PARTY BALLOT, PERSONAL RATINGS, AFGHANISTAN WAR, BIDEN ISSUE APPROVAL: NBC News, Aug. 17-20
Publication schedule: Lunchtime Politics publishes when important new polling data is available, usually at least once a week. When we get closer to the next round of elections, we will resume daily publication. Thanks to all our readers and best of health, Ron
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