Pew Research Poll: Biden's Numbers Slipping Among Democrats

Democrats are becoming less supportive of President Joe Biden and the direction in which he's leading the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.

In a national survey of 5,128 adults conducted Jan. 10-17, just 29% of the Democrats polled said they are satisfied with the state of the nation. That number is down 18 percentage points since last March in a Pew Research Center poll taken shortly after Biden was sworn in. 

Biden's standing among members of his party also is slipping, the poll shows. About 76% of Democrats said they approve of Biden's performance, but that is down 7 percentage points since fall:

• Overall, 41% of the adults polled said they approve of Biden's job performance, but in September, 44% approved. 
• Biden's job rating fell 20 points among Democrats, from 88% to 68%. 
• Approval of Biden’s performance was also down among both liberal Democrats, at 72% now compared to 80% in September, and among conservative and moderate Democrats, at 65% vs. 71% in September. 

The public's opinion of the direction of the country under Biden's White House is continuing to drop as well, the poll revealed:

• 21% of the public is satisfied, compared to 33% and 36% in February 2018, near the beginning of the last midterm year. 
• 28% said economic conditions are excellent or good. 
• Among Republicans, however, Biden's job approval rating dropped by 10 points since July. 

Favorable views of Congress have also dropped, with the changes mostly driven by Democrats:

• 28% of the public expresses a favorable opinion of Congress, vs. 36% last April. 
• Democrats' view of Congress, which their party leads, dropped from 50% last April to 36%. 
• Republicans' views changed slightly, from 21% to 18%. 

Meanwhile, the public has a more positive image of the Democratic Party than the Republican Party, the poll shows, with 43% viewing the Democrats favorably and 35% with a favorable view of the GOP. 

The poll also showed the public favors Democrats on several policy points, including climate change, COVID-19, abortion, and education, while common shares agreed with both sides on immigration, gun policy, and the economy. 

Democrats were also seen as governing more honestly, by 45% to 39%, and another 51% said the Democratic Party respects the country's institutions, compared to 46% for the Republican Party. 

Overwhelming majorities said they see prices skyrocketing, with 89% saying food and consumer goods are more expensive; and 82% saying gas prices are worse than they were last year. However, 56% said the availability of jobs has improved, compared to last year.

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