President Biden is facing challenges in public perception compared to former President Trump, particularly in areas such as the economy and border security, according to a national NBC News poll released on Sunday. Despite recent positive economic indicators, including job growth and easing inflation, Biden trails Trump by 23 points when voters were asked who would handle the economy better. Trump also leads significantly in areas like securing the border, mental and physical health for the presidency, dealing with crime and violence, competitiveness and effectiveness, and improving America’s standing in the world.
The poll reveals a substantial shift from 2020, particularly in the belief that Biden is more likely to be up to the job, a key aspect of his candidacy. The erosion of Biden’s standing against Trump in various measures compared to four years ago is a concerning trend, according to Democrat pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who conducted the poll with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. The decline in public perception may be contributing to Biden’s approval rating hitting a new low of 37%, according to the poll.
Despite Biden’s recent assertions that his administration’s economic policies are starting to show results, a majority of registered voters (55%) still believe Trump would be a better candidate to handle the economy, compared to 33% who chose Biden. The overall poll results show Trump leading Biden by five percentage points (47% to 42%) among registered voters in a hypothetical 2024 general election rematch. The poll was conducted from January 26 to 30, surveying 1,000 registered voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.