President Biden faces an American public that is far more trusting of his biggest political opponent on inflation and economic issues — issues that are likely to loom large on voters’ minds at the polls in November.
A Cook Political Report poll conducted in partnership with Democratic and Republican strategy firms and released last week found that overwhelming majorities of voters in seven “battleground states” are dissatisfied with Biden’s economic handling.
The poll of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin found that 60% disapproved and 45% strongly disapproved of Biden’s economic policy, while 40% approved and just 19% strongly approved.
The contrast with former President Trump is stark: 62% approve of his economic policies during his presidency, including 41% who strongly approve, while 38% disapprove, including 26% who strongly disapprove.
This situation is especially tough for Biden’s election hopes because the economy is his top priority. When asked to name the three most important issues the next president should focus on, 73% cited the economy, inflation and cost of living as the top three. Immigration and border security came next at 52%, another issue where Biden is unpopular and lags behind Trump.
When asked which is the best indicator of the health of the economy, battleground state voters overwhelmingly chose the cost of living at 54%, closely followed by the unemployment rate (13%) and household income (9%). Interest rates received 9% support, and the stock market 6%.
Sixty-two percent of voters in battleground states expect the economy to get worse, including 40% who say it’s getting a lot worse, while only 24% say it’s getting better and only 6% say it’s getting a lot better.
When asked to describe their personal financial situation, Americans in battleground states are far more likely to choose negative than positive words. In a survey question that allowed multiple answers, 30% said they were unhappy, 25% were anxious, 18% were depressed and 12% were angry. 22% chose “it’s okay.” Only 14% said they were optimistic, 15% were satisfied and just 9% were happy.
Americans don’t believe Biden would be able to adequately address the inflation problem if reelected. Sixty-one percent are pessimistic about whether Biden’s reelection would solve the problem of “the cost of everyday life,” with 43% saying they are very pessimistic. When it comes to housing costs, 63% are pessimistic, with 41% saying they are very pessimistic.
Trump, on the other hand, is a ray of hope: 55% say they are optimistic, with 31% being pessimistic. Only 45% are pessimistic, with 28% being very pessimistic. When it comes to housing costs, 53% say they are optimistic about the issue if Trump is elected, with 28% being very optimistic.
While many economists and economic commentators argue that the president has little or no control over inflation, the public doesn’t think so: 28 percent of battleground state voters say the president has a lot of control over inflation, and 31 percent say he has some control over it. Only 25 percent say the president has very little control over inflation, and 16 percent say he has no control over it.
When asked who they could trust to “make the economy better for people like you,” only 39% said they trusted Biden and the Democrats, including 22% who said they trusted Biden and the Democrats much more. Fifty percent said they trusted Trump and the Republicans, including 34% who said they trusted the right wing much more.
Fifty-six percent of battleground state residents say a Trump victory would likely bring down the cost of living, including 31% who said it was “very likely.” In contrast, only 40% said a Biden win would bring down the cost of living, and only 13% said it was “very likely.”
Asked whether inflation would continue to be a problem if Biden were elected, 78% said it was likely, including 47% who said it was very likely.
