Biden’s Poll Numbers Continue to Slide, as Michigan, Nevada Shift Toward Republicans
A new analysis from the Cook Political Report (CPR) has noted that President Joe Biden’s polling numbers have decreased, leading to shifts in support toward Republicans in the states of Michigan and Nevada. The report, which was released on Dec. 19, found that Biden’s job approval rating had fallen from 41 percent in July to 39 percent.
According to CPR’s Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter, this decline in Biden’s approval rating has prompted the reclassification of Nevada and Michigan from ‘Lean Democrat’ to ‘Toss-Up’ states. This is due to Nevada being home to a higher share of Latino voters and Michigan having the largest Arab American population in the United States.
Furthermore, the report indicated that issues such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the handling of the border crisis are contributing to Biden’s apparent lack of popularity. CPR also highlighted concerns that the surge in illegal immigration at the U.S.–Mexico border could significantly impact the Democrats’ 2024 campaign.
In a recent interview with NewsNation’s “The Hill,” Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) expressed his belief that the surge in illegal immigrants along the southern border is hurting the Democrats’ 2024 campaign. Cuellar represents Texas’s 28th congressional district, which includes cities with large Hispanic Democratic populations.
CPR’s analysis comes as data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed approximately 5.8 million border encounters since President Biden took office. The report raises the issue of “gotaways,” referring to illegal immigrants who have not been apprehended or processed by officials.
President Biden’s handling of the border crisis has been a major point of contention, as stated by various Democrats. According to a White House spokesman, polling numbers are “imperfect” and do not always accurately reflect or influence upcoming election results. Despite concerns among Democrats, the Biden administration has downplayed the impact of sluggish support numbers.
Shifting support toward Republicans in Michigan and Nevada represents a significant change from the 2020 presidential election, in which Biden won the majority of the vote in these two states. Now, with his approval ratings dropping and Republican opposition gaining momentum, Biden faces an uphill battle in these key battlegrounds. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to these challenges and strive to regain lost ground in these crucial states.
