How Joe Biden Really Feels About His Declining Poll Numbers
Joe Biden began his presidency with unusually high poll numbers. Perhaps the change from the twice-impeached former president, Donald Trump, and the sense of hope that Biden and a new administration brought contributed to those numbers.
Plus, there was also action. During the first few months of Biden's administration, the American Rescue Plan passed Congress and was signed into law (via WhiteHouse.gov), offering stimulus checks to millions of Americans. It also provided a child tax credit that was deposited into bank accounts each month, which has already cut child poverty considerably (via CNBC).
Vaccination rates picked up to over 2 million shots per day by May (via The New York Times), mask mandates were being dropped, and it felt like America was finally back on the right track. According to FiveThirtyEight, back in May 2021, Biden's average approval rating was about 55%, but, by December, it had fallen to 43%.
President Joe Biden does what he believes is right despite poll numbers
While there are several factors contributing to President Joe Biden's low approval numbers, including how the war in Afghanistan ended and the resurgence of COVID-19 due first to the Delta variant and now the Omicron variant, Biden told CBS News that the numbers don't bother him because he's doing what he feels is right for the country as a whole.
"Well, you know, I guess it should get to me more," Biden said. "But look: one of the things we did decide, and I mean this, my word as a Biden, I know what I'm willing to lose over. If we walk away from the middle class, if we walk away from trying to unify people, if we start to engage in the same kind of politics that the last four years has done? I'm willing to lose over that."
When CBS reporter Rita Braver asked Biden if "willing to lose" meant losing the presidency in 2024, he said yes.
"My presidency, that's right. Because I'm gonna stick with it. There's certain things that are just, like for example Afghanistan. Well, I've been against that war in Afghanistan from the very beginning," Biden said. "We were spending $300 million a week in Afghanistan, over 20 years. Now, everybody says, 'You could have gotten out without anybody being hurt.' No one's come up with a way to ever indicate to me how that happens."