He’s going to have a hard time coming back.
A recent survey published by The Wall Street Journal unveiled a shift in national polling for the 2024 presidential election, indicating a slight lead for Donald Trump over Joe Biden. This development surfaced following President Biden’s scathing remarks about his predecessor at an event in California, labeling Trump as “despicable.” The survey depicted Biden with his lowest approval rating as president, aligning with other recent studies that have raised concerns within Democratic circles less than a year before the impending elections.
According to the poll, Trump holds a four-point lead over Biden, marking the first instance where the former president surpasses his successor in a head-to-head assessment for the 2024 White House race. When considering five potential third-party and independent candidates, who collectively garnered 17% support, Trump’s lead expands to six points, standing at 37-31.
While Biden has expressed his intent to run for a second term, apprehensions within the Democratic Party regarding his advancing age—81 on election day and 86 after potential reelection—have spurred discussions about his candidacy. Additionally, the recent indictment of President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, on nine criminal tax charges in California adds further challenges to his re-election prospects.
Despite Trump’s dominance in the Republican nomination race, his position in the presidential race remains uncertain due to ongoing legal issues. The former president, aged 78 on polling day, faces multiple concurrent criminal cases, some stemming from efforts to overturn Biden’s victory in 2020.
Biden, at a fundraising event, criticized Trump for his actions during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He condemned Trump’s passivity during the riot and referenced Trump’s recent statements, accusing him of embracing political violence. Biden’s address emphasized the perceived threat Trump poses to democracy and omitted reference to the Israel-Gaza conflict. While the WSJ survey raises concerns among Democrats, some caution against over-interpreting polls, advising that dissatisfaction with Biden now might not necessarily translate into votes against him in the elections, particularly if Trump becomes the Republican candidate.
