OPINION:
President Biden has been tanking in polls since, well, very nearly day one of his White House tenure.
But it’s his problem with the self-proclaimed independents that is the real sit-up-and-take-notice moment.
It’s one thing for Republicans to detest Biden. It’s another thing entirely for those who say they’re beholden to issues, not to party, to turn from him.
“Biden Approval Rating Shows Signs Of Life — But Not Among Independents,” read one recent Investor’s Business Daily headline, of an IBD/TIPP survey of 1,305 adults conducted between April 6 and April 8.
Here’s a quote from the story: “Biden’s approval rating has continued to surface after plunging to deeply unpopular levels early this year … But [his] recovery [with voters] has been one-dimensional — almost entirely among Democrats — as rampant inflation causes widespread financial stress among American households.”
Wages simply aren’t keeping pace with expenses.
Add to that lingering disgust of Team Biden’s handling of Afghanistan, as well as uncertainty over the president’s ability to deal with the Russia-Ukraine crisis in a way that doesn’t hike gas prices even higher — or in a way that doesn’t show America to be weak on the international stage — and it’s no wonder 51% of independents disapprove of the White House chief’s job performance, according to this IBD/TIPP survey.
And independents are key to winning elections.
In 2018, Pew Research reported roughly 38% of the American public regarded themselves as independents versus 31% Democrats and 26% Republicans. Another 2018 study from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University found that 56% of voters between the ages of 18 and 24 claimed affiliation with either the Republican or Democrat Party; the remaining were independent.
Significantly, though, most so-called independents actually lean toward a certain party — and as Pew reported, 17% in 2018 leaned Democrat; 13% lean Republican; only 7% didn’t lean one way or the other.
That’s a sizable chunk for Democrats to lose.
“Young Independent Voters Focus on Issues, Not Party,” Voice of America wrote in mid-2020.
Taken together — all three surveys — and it’s bad news all around for Democrats. And nobody knows that better than Democrats themselves.
“Democrats could have a youth voter problem in 2022,” CNN wrote in November, 2021.
“Youth-Vote Falloff Could Be Devastating for Democrats in 2022,” the Intelligencer wrote in March.
Skin color may be to blame.
“[I]n 2020,” The Intelligencer wrote, “Democrats [experienced] flagging performance among non-white voters, particularly the fast-growing Latino category. This trend has made Democrats more dependent than ever on young voters, who are also disproportionately people of color and/or multiracial.”
Well isn’t that interesting.
For years and years, into present-day politics, Democrats have been campaigning to open borders to illegals, banking on the hope that these red carpet roll-outs would lead to easy-peasy votes of gratitude and dependence at the ballot boxes.
It looks like the plan is backfiring.
This was Biden, November 2020: “Young voters set turnout record, aiding Biden win,” as The Hill wrote.
This was Biden December 2021: “Biden Loses Ground Among ‘Fearful’ Young Voters,” as US News wrote, citing a poll showing the younger generations hold a “grim view of their future — politically, economically and socially.”
Then come these.
“Biden approval rating lowest with Hispanic voters,” Fox News just wrote.
And from Sky News: “Hispanic voters turn on Democrats as Biden’s approval rating plunges in new poll.”
Only 26% of Latino voters think Biden’s doing a good job, Quinnipiac found.
Ouch.
Or, if you’re a Republican: Yay.
Biden doesn’t just have a problem with independents. He has a problem with Hispanics and Latinos; with the youth who turned out in record numbers to vote for him in 2020; and, of course, with Republicans.
Good thing Biden has a bunch of children and grandchildren, else by the time the election rolls around — if he runs again, as he’s indicated he will — he might not get any votes at all.
Democrats, in general, though, may want to rethink their stances on abortion. The way politics are shaping, in the coming years, they’ll need all the help they can get.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “Socialists Don’t Sleep: Christians Must Rise Or America Will Fall,” is available by clicking HERE.
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