The Great Depression of Biden
Recent polls suggest a decline in support for the US president due to the US response to the war in Ukraine - but first and foremost due to the country's soaring inflation. What are the implications of Joe Biden's decline in popularity for the Democratic Party's future?
Tali Goldstein
31/03/2022
Thursday, 31 March 2022, 13:47 Updated: Saturday, 02 April 2022, 09:09
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The White House (Photo: Reuters)
"If you remember Barack Obama's first speech to a nation, it was during the biggest financial crisis of a decade. President George W. Bush delivered his speech to the first nation shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks," Jane Sackie said. White House spokeswoman for the ABC network in March.
"Leaders need to lead during crises, and that's exactly what President Biden is doing," she added.
However, Biden's actions do not seem to win the sympathy of the American people - which is reflected in an unprecedented low in the percentage of support for him.
Both Biden's foreign policy and domestic policy are not very successful within the United States.
The war in Ukraine has been going on for more than a month, relations between the United States and China are worse than ever, in the US itself inflation is rising and the polarization between right and left camps is only growing. In general, American citizens do not feel better January 2021.
Shortly after the start of his second year in office, Biden's support percentage stands at just 40%, according to a March 28 poll by NBC - the lowest figure since taking office and down 3% from January.
Moreover, 71% of a thousand survey participants said they believe the United States is on the "wrong track."
This is mainly to blame for the war in Ukraine.
Joe Biden Support Percentage Chart (Photo: Official Website, fivethirtyeight.com)
Ukraine destroys Leiden
The Americans are closely following what is happening in the Eastern European country, and despite their separatist stance, they do not seem to like the reaction of the United States.
A late-March NPR / Ipsus poll found that most Americans believe Biden's conduct on the issue is not good.
Many say the president is too cautious, despite concerns about the escalation of the conflict and the possibility of sending American troops to Ukraine.
According to the poll, about six out of ten Americans want the U.S. to give Ukraine all the support it requires, but are trying to avoid a broader military confrontation with Russia, which is consistent with the way Biden has conducted itself so far. The American, even if he fulfills all their wishes, he will not get credit for it, "said Chris Jackson, vice president at Ipsos.
US President Joe Biden with Ukrainian Girl at Refugee Assistance Center in Warsaw, March 26, 2022 (Photo: Reuters)
That's inflation, stupid
However important the war in Ukraine may be, Biden's big crisis today is also the biggest concern for Americans - inflation, which stood at 7.9% in February.
In the NPR / Ipsus survey, 40% of Americans, including 60% of Republicans, rated inflation, or "rising costs," as a top concern.
Even the low unemployment rate - 3.8% in February - does not comfort them.
Inflation also affects the polarization between the Democratic and Republican parties.
Democrats point to a variety of factors, including the war in Ukraine and the long-term effects of the corona plague (disruptions in supply chains and severe delays in maritime transport).
"International and local events have happened at the same time, such as Ukraine and Russia and the plague. But I do not blame the current administration for that," Colin Holland, a Marlington Democrat in Virginia, told NPR in an interview.
In contrast,
Food prices are rising.
Wal-Mart branch in the United States (Photo: AP)
Significant long-term consequences
In November, there will be a midterm election for the U.S. Congress (the congressional election is held in November every four years, close to the middle of the presidential term), and Biden's sadly historically the incumbent president's party loses seats in the House of Representatives and Senate in the midterm elections.
Democrats now have a modest 12-seat majority in the House of Representatives, with a total of 435 seats.
In the Senate, which has 100 seats, Republicans have 50 seats and Democrats 48 in addition to two independent senators.
The only one who can tip the scales in favor of Democrats is Vice President Kamala Harris - making it immensely difficult to pass laws initiated by Democrats.
Recent poll data "suggest that the midterm elections will be a disaster for President Biden and the Democratic Party," pollster Bill Opinion of Public Opinion Strategy told NBC.
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