Recent polls have caused much dismay for the Biden camp, as they show a steady decline in voter support for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The polls indicate that the race between President Donald Trump and Biden has tightened considerably, with Trump’s advantage increasing over the past few weeks. Ultimately, this could be the make or break moment for Biden’s election chances.
The polls show that Biden’s favorability has dropped to its lowest level since he announced his candidacy in April, and many voters are beginning to look at him unfavorably. Biden’s national numbers in the latest poll taken on Sunday, August 2nd, were 51 percent favorable and 38 percent unfavorable — a drastic drop from the 58 percent favorable score he had in June.
In addition to Biden’s falling favorability, the polls also suggest that Biden’s ability to energize the Democratic base is also faltering. Just a month ago, Biden was able to boast endorsements from both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both of whom are considered powerful voices among Democratic voters. Now, the same polls show that the enthusiasm and support for Biden among the progressive wing of the Democratic party is dwindling.
The polls seem to indicate that Biden is relying too heavily on specific demographics such as women, people of color, and young voters to carry him through the election, but his support is lacking within these groups. His support among blacks decreased in the latest poll from 77 percent in June to 65 percent.
The Biden camp’s effort to bring in voters who had previously voted for Trump in 2016, such as suburban housewives, is also not working out as planned. Trump’s support is actually increasing among these groups, whereas Biden’s is falling.
The Biden team has been quick to point out the polls are not the end-all-be-all of the election and ultimately the only poll that matters is the one on election day. However, as the race continues to tighten, Biden is no doubt feeling the pressure. If he is unable to turn the tide in the coming weeks, it may be too late for him to secure the victory.