The latest research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies finds that 47% of Americans disapprove and 37% approve of President Joe Biden’s overall job performance as President. His net approval rating, at -10%, is eight points lower than in our polling on 23 February, when 41% disapproved and 39% approved of Biden’s performance.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ net approval rating has also worsened compared to two weeks ago, decreasing four points to -9% this week. In our latest poll, 43% disapprove (up 1%) and 34% approve (down 3%) of Kamala Harris’ performance as Vice President.
On matters of policy, the Joe Biden Administration elicits positive net approval ratings in the areas of the coronavirus pandemic (+13%), the environment (+4%), healthcare (+4%), and education (+3%).
Americans give the Administration slightly negative net approval ratings for its performance on housing (-1%) and national security and defence (-2%), as well as more substantially negative ratings when it comes to the economy (-8%), relations with Russia (-8%), and immigration (-9%).
Looking ahead to the 2022 Midterm Election, the economy remains the top issue that Americans say will determine how they will vote in the election. When asked to select up to three issues that are most likely to determine how they vote this November, 61% select the economy, 34% select healthcare, and 26% select the coronavirus pandemic as determinative election issues. The proportion of respondents who choose foreign policy and defence has increased from 11% two weeks ago to 18% in our latest poll.
The economy is the most-selected option for both 2020 Joe Biden (58%) and Donald Trump (72%) voters. Other important election issues for Biden voters include healthcare (42%) and the pandemic (33%), while 40% of Trump voters select immigration and 27% select healthcare.
With regard to the 2024 Presidential Election, our latest hypothetical voting intention finds Donald Trump ahead of Joe Biden for the first time since our 18 December poll. After weighting by likelihood to vote, 42% of respondents say they would vote for Trump (up 4%) and 40% say they would vote for Biden (down 2%) if they were the candidates in 2024. A further 12% say they don’t know how they would vote (down 1%).
Large majorities of 2020 Donald Trump voters (89%, up 5%) and Joe Biden voters (80%, no change) maintain that they would again vote for those respective candidates.
An alternative 2024 Kamala Harris campaign produces an even greater lead for the Republican candidate. If Donald Trump and Kamala Harris were the 2024 nominees, 42% of Americans say they would vote for Trump (up 5%) and 37% say they would vote for Harris (down 4%). In this scenario, 13% say they don’t know how they would vote (no change).
