As we approach the 2024 election, President Joe Biden’s approval ratings are dropping, according to a recent Gallup poll. After announcing his re-election campaign, Biden’s job approval rating among the American public has slipped to 37%, the lowest Gallup has measured for him to date. This marks a 14.3% drop in support since the 2020 election.
The latest poll, taken from April 3-25, shows a 3-point dip from March and a 5-point drop from February. Biden’s ninth quarter average in polling is 39.7%, which is lower than that of any elected post-World War II president, with the exception of Ronald Reagan’s early 1983 average. Reagan’s low ratings were caused by a high unemployment rate after the 1981-1982 economic recession.
The poll also found that while 83% of Democrats support Biden, just 31% of independents back him. This ties the lowest reading among independents and shows a 9-point drop since February’s poll.
According to the pollsters, the drop in Biden’s job approval ratings corresponds with Americans’ worsening evaluations of the U.S. economy. Only 16% of respondents rated the economy as “excellent” or “good,” while 37% said it was “only fair,” and 47% said it was “poor” (up from 43% in March). Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index for April is -44, down from -38 in March, which was last at this level in October.
It’s clear that the economy is a major concern for Americans, with many attributing Biden’s declining approval ratings to his handling of the economy. As we approach the 2024 election, Biden will need to focus on improving the economy and addressing concerns among independents in order to maintain his support and secure a second term in office.
