President Biden’s Approval Rating Hits Historic Low in Year-End Gallup Poll
A recent Gallup poll has revealed that President Biden’s approval rating is at a historic low, worse than any other modern-day president seeking reelection at this point in the campaign cycle. According to the December survey, Biden’s approval rating currently stands at 39 percent. This puts him below former President Trump, who had a 45 percent approval rating at the same point in his reelection campaign, and former President Obama, whose approval rating was at 43 percent.
Gallup also noted that former President George W. Bush enjoyed the support of 58 percent of survey respondents at this time in his reelection cycle, likely aided by the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Former Presidents Clinton and George H.W. Bush each had 51 percent support while vying for a second term, and former President Reagan and Carter had approval ratings of 54 percent and 51 percent respectively.
In a statement, Gallup wrote that “Biden enters 2024 with a persistently low job approval rating, the worst of any modern-day president heading into a tough reelection campaign.” Biden’s latest approval rating has seen a slight uptick from the record-low 37 percent in October and November, but it marks the fifth time the president has fallen below 40 percent in 2023. He began his term in January 2021 with a high of 57 percent support.
The survey also revealed that support among Democrats dipped in October, likely due to the Israel-Hamas war, but has improved slightly to 78 percent in the recent survey. On the other hand, Republicans continue to hold a low opinion of Biden, with only 5 percent support in the most recent poll. Independents, on the other hand, have shown more variability in their ratings, with 34 percent of independent respondents expressing approval of Biden in the recent survey, up 7 points from last month.
Looking ahead to the election year, Gallup found that Americans are feeling better about the economy, but it remains a pressing concern for many. Biden’s handling of foreign affairs, particularly the ongoing conflicts in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, is also likely to play a large role in the campaign. Additionally, Republicans are expected to continue pressuring Biden on immigration security at the country’s southern border.
The survey was conducted from Dec. 1-20, and the results project a challenging road ahead for President Biden as he heads into the 2024 election cycle. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.