Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's relatively high approval rating, combined with President Joe Biden's increasing unpopularity, threatens Democrats' presidential election prospects in Virginia.
A total of 54% of Virginia voters approve of Youngkin's job performances, while only 31% disapprove in the latest Virginia Commonwealth University poll results.
That's a 5-point approval rating increase for Youngkin since August.
Along racial lines, 62% of white respondents, 47% of Asians, and 36% of Blacks say they approve of Youngkin.
Youngkin shocked Democrats by being elected Virginia governor in 2021 when he defeated former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat.
Only 37% of Virginians approve of Biden's job performance and 54% disapprove.
"This is a two-point drop [down from 39%] compared to his approval rating in the August 2023 Commonwealth Poll," the VCU survey analysis said.
In a potential 2024 presidential election matchup between Biden and former President Donald Trump, Biden holds a 3-percentage-point lead in Virginia, 7 points lower than his winning margin over Trump in the 2020 election.
Trump currently is the clear front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination.
If former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were pitted against Biden, though, she wins 43%-38%, according to the VCU survey results.
The poll results also show that Biden is underwater with independents, with 30% approving and 37% disapproving.
Racially, 32% of white respondents and 58% of Black respondents approve of Biden's performance.
One potentially encouraging sign for Democrats is that the VCU poll found that voters are focused on abortion rights as one of their biggest issues.
"When asked what the most important reason for their voting was in the November 2023 election, Virginians cited women's reproductive rights (21%) and education (19%) as their primary reasons," the survey analysis said.
Youngkin told Newsmax in November that he is helping to flip the state to red by using common sense, exposing liberals for just "selling fear," having "no agenda" and "no plan."
"Let's be clear: They don't know how to create jobs; they're damaging our economy with Bidenomics; they don't stand up for parents and school; they diminish education standards; they demeaned law enforcement, crime goes up; they waste money; they haven't done anything for behavioral health," Youngkin told Newsmax's "American Right Now" last week.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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