THE BIDEN COLLAPSE?  One consistent factor in the early presidential polls being taken is the weakness of Joe Biden.  There may be a "wanting of Biden" in some groups, but it is hard to find.  The new, detailed, Washington Post poll gives a good picture of the extent of President Biden's political decline.  From ABC News: 

President Joe Biden's job approval rating is 19 points underwater, his ratings for handling the economy and immigration are at career lows. A record number of Americans say they've become worse off under his presidency, three-quarters say he's too old for another term and Donald Trump is looking better in retrospect -- all severe challenges for Biden in his reelection campaign ahead.

Forty-four percent of Americans in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll say they've gotten worse off financially under Biden's presidency, the most for any president in ABC/Post polls since 1986. Just 37% approve of his job performance, while 56% disapprove. Still fewer approve of Biden's performance on the economy, 30%.

On handling immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden's rating is even lower, with 23% approval. In terms of intensity of sentiment, 20% strongly approve of his work overall, while 45% strongly disapprove. And the 74% who say he's too old for a second term is up 6 percentage points since May. Views that Trump is too old also are up, but to 50% in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates.

Such is down-on-Biden sentiment that if a government shutdown occurs at month's end, 40% say they'd chiefly blame him and the Democrats in Congress, versus 33% who'd pin it on the Republicans in Congress -- even given the GOP infighting behind the budget impasse.

What is equally remarkable is the new standing for Donald Trump.

Trump, for his part, has improved in retrospect. When he reluctantly left office in January 2021, 38% approved of his work as president, essentially the same as Biden's rating now. But currently, looking back, 48% say they approve of Trump's performance when he was in office -- matching his peak as president. Essentially as many -- 49% -- now disapprove, down from 60% when he left the White House.

Comparison with Biden may be a factor. Among the 56% of Americans who disapprove of Biden's work in office, a wide 75% say that, looking back, they approve of Trump.

COMMENT:  Again, as we always say, polls are snapshots in time.  But many of the snapshots are starting to say the same thing, that the public would prefer someone else to be the Democratic presidential nominee.  Inevitably, we get the feeling that, if Biden wins the general election, it won't be because of any love for him, but only because of a new dislike for Trump.

There is no joy in our current politics.  Where are the heroes?

September 23, 2023