President Joe Biden is facing a new challenge in recent polling data: a growing number of Americans are now ruling out the possibility of voting for him.
In six crucial swing states, 51% of likely voters have stated that there is “not really any chance” they would support Biden, in contrast to only 46% saying the same about former President Donald Trump, as per a May survey conducted by The New York Times and Siena College. This trend of more voters refusing to consider voting for Biden compared to Trump has been consistent across multiple polls from November 2023 to April, as reported by The Washington Post.
The shift in American voters’ willingness to support Biden marks a significant change from the 2020 election, where voters were more likely to express their refusal to vote for Trump than for Biden, according to the Post. Despite both candidates facing notable protest votes during their uncontested primaries, alternative options to Biden have garnered substantial backing in various Democratic primaries, particularly in swing states like Nevada, Michigan, and North Carolina. On the Republican side, Nikki Haley continues to attract significant support in presidential primaries despite withdrawing from the race months ago, as reported by CNN.
As the election draws closer, polling data presents a challenging outlook for Biden’s reelection prospects. With an approval rating of just 38.7% as of May 17, Biden is currently less popular than any president since Harry Truman at this point in their presidency, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average. Additionally, Trump has consistently polled ahead of Biden in key battleground states crucial for determining the election outcome.
The New York Times poll surveyed 4,097 registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points for likely voters.