Poll paints paltry party support for Biden second term

(CN) — Less than one year out from the 2024 primary elections, nearly half of Democrats told pollsters they aren’t ordering a second cup of Joe. Three-quarters of Democrats said they like President Joe Biden, but only a quarter said they’d like to see him run for reelection, according to a Monmouth University Poll published Monday.

Researchers at Monmouth University Poll spoke with 542 Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters this month.

“Democrats appear to be saying they like the job Biden has done, but maybe it’s time for him to move on when his term is up,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, in a statement. “However, no top tier of candidates emerges when these voters are asked to name a preferred alternative. Part of that could simply be the holding pattern that Democrats are in because Biden has signaled that he will, in fact, run.”

Seventy-four percent of voters said they see Biden in a favorable light, compared to 14% who consider him unfavorable. At least five Democrats polled said they had never heard of him.

The only Democratic figureheads to receive higher praise than Biden were former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Even though the former president isn’t eligible, each Obama would have support from 1% of Democrats if they announced a bid for office today.

While 44% of Democrats said they would like to see Biden step aside for another candidate, only half of those polled suggested alternates. Just one, Vice President Kamala Harris, has double-digit support among voters polled.

Nearly two-thirds of Democrats polled said they see Harris in a favorable light, but only 13% say they want her to be selected as the party nominee.

After the Obamas and Biden, voters ranked Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders third in terms of favorability. While 71% of voters favor Sanders — and 12% dislike him — only 6% of voters said they want to see him nominated to lead the party.

Six percent of voters also said they would support a second run for “America’s mayor,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

One third of Democrats polled by Monmouth University said they supported Biden from the start in the 2020 primary election. Just a few years ago, 20% of the recently polled Democrats recalled supporting Sanders and 11% saw a leader in Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Nearly half of Democrats said they still have feelings for their first pick, with 44% telling pollsters they think that person would have done a better job than Biden. Slightly more people, 46%, said their first pick would have done about the same as Biden. Looking back, 9% of Democrats think their initial pick would have done worse than Biden.

Although author Marianne Williamson has already launched her 2024 campaign website, the poll found only 25% of voters know who she is, and more voters had unfavorable opinions than favorable opinions of her.

Biden has not formally announced a reelection bid.

It is unclear which Republican the Democratic nominee will end up running against. Since former President Donald Trump launched his campaign, he has been challenged by former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton.

Aside from Trump, a December poll from Monmouth also indicated measurable support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, neither who whom are currently running.

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