The upcoming 2024 presidential race in the United States is set to make history in various ways. Notably, it could mark the fifth instance of a former president seeking re-election, as well as only the seventh presidential rematch in the nation’s history.
Strange Circumstances
The most striking aspect of this race is the legal and ethical controversies surrounding the candidates, with former President Donald Trump facing multiple indictments and impeachments and President Joe Biden scrutinized for his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings.
Trump’s Legal Troubles
According to a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, a substantial majority of Americans believe that former President Trump has done something wrong.
75% Of Americans
In fact, three-quarters of Americans perceive wrongdoing on Trump’s part, with 49% believing he has committed something illegal and 26% considering his actions unethical but not illegal.
Biden’s Controversy
In contrast, President Biden faces a smaller but significant portion of the population’s skepticism regarding his involvement in his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings.
Approximately 38% of respondents believe that the president has engaged in illegal activities, while 25% perceive his actions as unethical but not necessarily illegal.
Republicans on Biden
As expected, these opinions are divided along party lines.
A striking nine in ten Republicans believe that President Biden has engaged in wrongdoing related to his son’s business dealings, as do seven in ten independents. In contrast, only one in three Democrats shares this belief.
Democrats on Trump
Conversely, almost all Democrats (97%) perceive wrongdoing in Trump’s actions, alongside three-quarters of independents.
Roughly half of Republicans share this belief, showing a clear partisan divide.
Support Despite Conviction
Interestingly, two-thirds of Republicans who prefer Trump as their candidate would still want him to be president even if he is convicted of a crime.
This demonstrates a substantial base of support, but it could potentially impact his chances of re-election.
Independents’ Reaction
Independents play a pivotal role in elections, and their response to a potential conviction could significantly influence Trump’s re-election prospects.
While half of all adults in this group prefer Trump, and only one-third of those who favor him would still want him as president if he were convicted of a crime.
A Tight Race
In a hypothetical 2024 matchup, Biden and Trump are in a dead heat, with 49% of registered voters supporting Biden and 47% for Trump.
These numbers have remained relatively stable since August. Such early polling matchups are typically not definitive, as voters have yet to become familiar with primary candidates.
However, the outcome remains hypothetical until the GOP officially nominates a candidate.
Trump’s Popularity
Despite his legal troubles, Donald Trump remains the most popular GOP primary candidate, with a favorable rating of 74% among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is the only other candidate with a majority favorability rating, but he lags behind Trump at 58%.
Enthusiasm Matters
Enthusiasm among supporters is a key factor. The poll shows that 43% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents would be “very satisfied” with Trump as their nominee, compared to 30% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who would feel the same about Biden.
However, both candidates still have a significant portion of their party’s voters who are unsatisfied with their candidacy.
Favorability Ratings
Both Trump and Biden have net-negative favorability ratings, with Trump’s being worse at negative 19 percentage points. Biden’s rating stands at negative seven percentage points. A significant portion of registered voters (26%) would prefer to see neither candidate elected in 2024.
Third-Party Candidates
Given the number of voters who have reservations about both Biden and Trump, there has been interest in the potential for a third-party candidate. However, the poll suggests that even with third-party candidates in the mix, a Biden-Trump race would remain competitive, with Biden holding 40% support and Trump at 39%.
A Personality Issue
Some voters, like Art Frasca, a Republican from Michigan, have reservations about Trump’s personality, even though they voted for him in the past.
Frasca said, “I think Trump, if he had a Congress that would work with him, things might get done,” and, “I think people will hinder him just because of his personality. And I don’t think we can afford that.”
Too Old for President
Julie Tyndall from North Carolina, who identifies as “left-leaning,” voted for Biden in 2020 but has reservations about him running again.
She feels, “Biden is just too old to be running again,” and “I wouldn’t have expected my great-grandfather to be President, because he started slipping, and it seems like Biden’s slipping too.”
Just Keep Fighting
Tyndall also expresses frustration with both political parties for their perceived inability to work together for the benefit of the country.
She said both political parties “never tend to do anything that’s actually beneficial to the country,” and “They just keep fighting each other, and that’s all they care about.”
“Here We Go Again” – President Biden’s Peculiar Conduct Towards a Baby Sparks Outrage, Fueling Alarming Questions About His Mental Fitness
Megyn Kelly, a well-known right-wing commentator, unleashed her fury on President Joe Biden for nibbling a baby’s shoulder, questioning his mental state and age. “Here We Go Again” – President Biden’s Peculiar Conduct Towards a Baby Sparks Outrage, Fueling Alarming Questions About His Mental Fitness
Kamala Harris’ CONFUSING Speech Draws Merciless Mockery and Criticism – “She Did It Again!”
Vice President Kamala Harris, known for her speeches, once again found herself at the center of controversy following her remarks at the 2023 Essence Festival of Culture. Here’s what happened. Kamala Harris’ CONFUSING Speech Draws Merciless Mockery and Criticism – “She Did It Again!”
Christianity in “Chaos” – Former Church Leader Warns of Political Interference Imperiling Its Future
A former top church leader has warned that Christianity is in “crisis” as the line between politics and religion grows ever closer. His comments have sparked a wave of discussion online. Let’s take a look at the full story. Christianity in “Chaos” – Former Church Leader Warns of Political Interference Imperiling Its Future
“Stop Accepting Migrants!” – Democrats Hit Hard as Voters Deal Crushing Blow Over New York’s Migrant Mess
A majority of New Yorkers, as per a Siena College poll, want the state to reduce the influx of migrants, with 58% expressing that New York has already done enough to assist migrants. “Stop Accepting Migrants!” – Democrats Hit Hard as Voters Deal Crushing Blow Over New York’s Migrant Mess
“This Isn’t Normal” – Biden’s Cognitive Ability Under Intense Scrutiny, Sparking Controversy Over His Ability to Lead a Country
President Joe Biden’s speech in Philadelphia caught the attention of many when a video clip surfaced showing him appearing confused and struggling to find the exit after finishing his address. Here’s the full story. “This Isn’t Normal” – Biden’s Cognitive Ability Under Intense Scrutiny, Sparking Controversy Over His Ability to Lead a Country
The post Trump Creeps up the Polls, Threatening Biden’s Presidency first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Evan El-Amin. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.