In recent poll after poll, people keep saying they are worried about U.S. President Joe Biden. They fear for the president’s age and mental sharpness.
One poll from months back even stated that twenty-six percent said he is too old for another term.
Just 32 percent of those questioned agreed with the statement that Biden “has the mental sharpness it takes to serve effectively as president.”
Sixty-three percent said he does not have the mental sharpness to serve confidently.
At Least One News Host Is Worried
The host of the ABC News Sunday program “This Week” reacted fearfully to these numbers back in May. “This poll is just brutal for President Biden,” said veteran broadcaster George Stephanopoulos.
“I’ve got to admit I have a hard time wrapping my head around that,” he said. “You’ve got one in five people who say they believe President Trump should face criminal charges, but they would still vote for him.”
Democrat Activist Is Losing Sleep
Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile couldn’t believe the numbers and said she stayed up past midnight trying to inform her contacts about the bad news for Biden. “They are still unable to get a real good, strong message to the American people, not just on the accomplishments, but where they want to take the country.,” she said.
Joe Biden: No Credit Where Credit Is Due?
Aside from concerns about Biden’s age and health, voters do not seem to be giving Joe Biden credit for what he has achieved during his presidency.
He helped bring in the Inflation Reduction Act, which had historic monetary support for the green energy transition.
He oversaw the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. He showed leadership on the bill to protect marriage for the LGBTQ community and interracial couples.
Many predicted that the economy would be in recession by now, but Joe Biden claims his policies are responsible for a very low unemployment rate.
The problem is that people do not feel like they are better off than they were before the pandemic. In a recent economic poll from months back, 49 percent of Americans said they would not be able to cover a $400 expense should it arise. This percentage is up from 32 percent last November. That means more people are living off their credit cards without an adequate emergency fund. Americans have nearly a trillion dollars in credit card balances. High-interest rates make the money people owe on their credit cards go up even more. Meanwhile, buying a house is also more difficult due to ballooning mortgage rates.
Inflation has remained with people suffering from stagnant wages or they are trapped in low-paying jobs. The wealth effect, when Americans spend more money if they feel flush with cash, is waning.
People also believe that crime and mass shootings are going up under Biden’s watch. Mounting bank failures have caused people to withdraw their savings even though most accounts are guaranteed up to $250,000 by the FDIC. There is also a feeling that democracy is under threat due to extremist views from some Trump supporters, which is something Biden can use to criticize Republicans.
America is Worried About Joe Biden
Overall, voters are fearful, and Biden’s mental acuity does not appear to reassure them. They don’t feel better off financially and they don’t give his administration credit for legislative wins. Biden must convince voters that his policies are responsible for the upside of the economy – low unemployment and excellent job creation and for a lower likelihood of a recession.
But if Americans are still struggling financially, they will vote with their wallets, and this could mean they may send Biden packing in 2024.
Now serving as 1945s New Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer.
