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More voters think Biden is not mentally, physically fit for office that do, poll

The president, whose approval rate has been plummeting, is now underwater on key questions pertaining to his health and mental wellbeing

November 17, 2021 10:01am

Updated: November 17, 2021 2:22pm

Voters are increasingly split on the matter of President Biden's health and mental fitness for office. 

According to a poll from Politico/Morning Consult, just 40% of voters agreed that the president "is in good health," 50% disagreed. The 10-percentage-point gap represents a 29-point shift since just over a year ago, when voters, by a 19-point margin believed Biden to be in good health.

The numbers suggest the concern about the president's mental and physical health goes beyond his partisan detractors.

When asked whether the president is mentally fit, 46% responded that he is, while 48% disagreed. Last October, voters felt Biden was mentally fit by a 21-point margin. 

While questions begin to circle about whether Biden will seek another term in the Oval Office – he says he will – faith in him from the ever-important independent constituency appears to be evaporating. By a margin of 23 points, independents do not believe Biden is mentally fit at present. 

Biden, the oldest president ever to be elected, turns 79 on Saturday.  

The poll additionally found that voters overwhelmingly do not find Biden to be a clear communicator, do not find him to be energetic and do not feel he is a strong leader.

His approval rating is also underwater, according to the poll, with 44% of those asked willing to give him a positive job review, and 53% who disapprove. Despite the passage and signing of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, a major piece of legislation for the Biden agenda, the president's approval rating has essentially remained unchanged for the past two weeks.