Dems fear low Biden approval will hurt midterms

It’s no secret that President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have been a thorn in the side of the Democratic Party’s side.

Recent polls have shown that former President Donald Trump in the lead over President Joe Biden if the possible 2024 presidential matchup was held today, Trump would receive 47% of hypothetical voters compared to 41% for Biden.

Even Latino voters – once considered a pillar of the Democratic base – appear to have lost faith in Biden’s leftist agenda, another poll reveals. Many Americans have even said they trust European leaders -- including Zelensky, Macron and Scholtz -- more than their own commander-in-chief.

But as the 79-year-old statesman’s approval ratings continue to plummet, Democratic strategists have warned that the president’s historically low approval ratings could harm the party going into this year’s midterms as Americans continue to grapple with historically high inflation, rising prices and growing uncertainty in Europe, The Hill reported.

“In terms of Biden, I think these can only be called rough political times,” said Princeton University history and public affairs professor Julian Zelizer. “At least going into the midterm, these poor perceptions of his leadership and the inflationary pressures will weigh him and the Democrats down.”

Although there are many reasons that voters appear to be disillusioned with the U.S.’ aging president, most experts told The Hill that the economy is what most concerns voters – especially as inflation reached yet another 40-year high and gas prices refuse to fall under $4 a gallon.

“High gas prices are one of the biggest anchors on presidential approval,” said Gallup senior editor Jeff Jones.

Similarly, Bill Galston, chairman of the Brookings Institution’s governance studies program and a former policy adviser to President Bill Clinton, said that rising inflation would continue to harm the president’s approval score.

“My hypothesis is that, unless and until inflation comes down appreciably, that there’s going to be a ceiling on his job approval that’s a lot lower than the White House wants it to be,” he said.

Even as the Biden administration attempts to soaring prices on Russian President’s illegal war against Ukraine – often referring to the increased gas costs as “Putin’s price hike” – administration officials have warned that the label is not gaining traction amongst the American public.

“For whatever reason, the messaging hasn’t gotten through,” an anonymous official told The Hill. “At times it feels like we’re spinning our wheels.”

One strategist, however, appeared to be even more pessimistic about the president’s stagnant ratings and what they could mean for Democrats in the midterms.

“Everyone needs to come to terms with the reality that we’re going to get slaughtered in November,” the strategist said. “That’s a fact. His polling has gotten worse, not better. It’s indicative of the fact that people have lost confidence in his leadership. There’s nothing they’re going to be able to do.”

“The problem is simple. The American people have lost confidence in him,” he added.