President Joe Biden is under increasing pressure from Democrats to step aside following his disastrous debate against Donald Trump and a series of verbal gaffes, culminating in a pivotal press conference on Thursday.
Despite calls from at least 19 lawmakers and a majority of voters for him to end his campaign, national polling shows Biden remains locked in a dead heat with former President Trump.
Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos Poll
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted from July 5-9 among 2,431 U.S. adults reveals:
– Two-thirds of all respondents think Biden should not run.
– 60% percent now believe Trump is too old for a second term, an increase from 44% in spring 2023.
– Biden and Trump are tied at 46% support among registered voters.
Concerns about Biden’s age and mental sharpness have increased, with only 14% believing Biden is more mentally fit than Trump, down from 23% in April. Vice President Kamala Harris is the most mentioned alternative but faces challenges with broader voter appeal.
NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll conducted from July 9-10 among 1,174 registered voters shows:
– Biden leads Trump 50% to 48%.
– 64% of Americans question Biden’s mental fitness.
– Biden holds a slight edge over Trump in terms of presidential character (52% to 47%).
– Honesty is a key issue, with 68% more concerned about a dishonest president than one who is too old to serve.
Both candidates face significant unfavorable ratings. A majority of 56% believe Biden should not be the Democratic nominee, while 54% hold the same view about Trump representing the GOP. In a multicandidate field, Trump leads Biden 43% to 42%, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 8%, Cornel West at 3%, Jill Stein at 2%, and Chase Oliver at less than 1%.
Project 2025 Awareness
The poll also highlights widespread unfamiliarity with Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation initiative proposing significant changes under a potential future Trump Administration. The survey shows that 44% of Americans either haven’t heard of or are unsure about the project. Among those aware, 41% hold an unfavorable view, while only 15% view it favorably. Notably, 62% of Trump supporters are unfamiliar with Project 2025, while 66% of Biden backers hold a negative opinion.
