After a terrible August that saw his support rating plummet amid the catastrophic fall of the US-backed government in Afghanistan and mounting COVID-19 cases at home, President Joe Biden is attempting to recapture the narrative around his presidency, The Hill reports.
The coronavirus pandemic has long been viewed as a significant subject in Biden’s presidency, and the president’s comeback attempt is focused on persuading the public that he is giving strong leadership on the matter.
In the beginning of Biden’s tenure, his staff were certain that voters trusted the President’s leadership on the problem, but declining poll numbers and the catastrophic epidemic have prompted concerns about public trust.
Biden gave a fiery address on Thursday, blaming the unprotected for the spread of the COVID-19 virus and outlining steps requiring government workers to get vaccinated.
Biden’s comments on the epidemic were a shift for him, as he had previously resisted supporting requirements and had taken a much harsher tone toward unvaccinated Americans.
Democrats recognize that the following six months are important for Biden, who, like the Democratic party, is already focused on 2022, when the party’s current House and Senate majority will be available to other candidates in the midterm elections.
Biden’s domestic program is also at a crossroads, as Democrats struggle to reach an agreement on a $3.5 trillion spending proposal that would alter much of the social safety net. Biden’s legacy will certainly be on the line, and that all depends on the success of the measure.
According to a recent NPR-PBS Newshour-Marist survey, Biden has a 43 percent favorable rating. More crucially, the poll found him with 36% support from independents, a ten-point decline from July. A later Washington Post-ABC News survey found Biden to have a 36% approval rating among independents, with 57 percent disapproving.
The Biden White House is banking that a majority of Americans would agree with him that the unvaccinated are slowing the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.
He also hopes to link GOP opponents to individuals who refuse to be vaccinated.
Republicans perceived a government in disarray in August, and their prospects of regaining GOP majorities in Congress were at an all-time high for the year.
Some Democrats also blame Biden for allowing the administration to lose control of the political discussion over Afghanistan. Some have also criticized Biden for delivering his address on Thursday too late.
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