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Young Americans are turning against Joe Biden
Without the threat of Donald Trump, the president’s policies are coming under increasing scrutiny
AMERICA’S LEFT depends on the support of young people. In 2008 it was they who powered Barack Obama’s primary campaign against Hillary Clinton and were critical in securing his landslide win against John McCain. In 2020, Joe Biden repeated his predecessor’s success with the group—who were largely motivated by disapproval of his opponent, Donald Trump—and won the White House. The election was so close that every young voter counted. But Mr Biden’s failure to impress the young now threatens his presidency.
According to The Economist’s analysis of polling conducted with YouGov, an online survey firm, an average of 29% of American adults under the age of 30 approve of the job Mr Biden is doing as president. But that compares with 50% who disapprove. The net rating of -21 points is the worst for any age group. Adults aged between 30 and 44 give Mr Biden a -17 rating; those aged 45 to 64 come in at -5; and among adults aged 65 and over, the president is eight points underwater. This is a sharp reversal from the beginning of the year, when young voters gave Mr Biden a net approval rating 32 points higher than older people did. And Mr Biden is falling out of favour fastest with the youngest groups.
Why have the young turned on him? Many told YouGov that their biggest concerns were climate change and health care. Here the president has promised much but so far delivered little. Younger Americans also care more about civil rights and abortion—and may be energised by recent Supreme Court rulings on the latter. Others are angry about student-loan debt and Mr Biden’s unfulfilled promise to cancel at least $10,000 owed by every borrower.
Whatever the explanation for Mr Biden’s sliding popularity with the young, their support for him was much stronger when the alternative was Mr Trump. So their evaluations of the president in isolation are becoming more critical. If this trend persists, the Democrats will face severe challenges in next year’s mid-term elections. ■
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