Biden should consider dropping out of the 2024 race as his approval rating hits ‘all-time low,’ suggests leading pollster

Pollster Nate Silver has expressed concerns about President Biden’s re-election chances, pointing to his historically low approval ratings.

Silver highlighted Biden’s approval rating of 37.4%, the lowest recorded by FiveThirtyEight’s latest average of job approval numbers.

“Biden just hit a new all-time low in approval,” Silver wrote on X. He argued that while dropping out of the race would be risky, continuing to run with such low approval could be an even more significant risk. “Are we there yet? I don’t know. But it’s more than fair to ask.”

Silver has consistently questioned the 81-year-old president’s ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. In February, Silver suggested there might be other Democrats better suited to take on the 77-year-old former president. Last month, he again raised the idea that Biden should consider stepping aside.

Silver believes that Democrats would have been better off if Biden had decided not to seek a second term a year ago. This would have allowed for a primary process and given voters a choice among other popular Democrats across the country, he said on Monday.

Joe Biden/Getty Images

Biden’s current polling numbers are much worse than they were heading into Election Day 2020. At that time, Biden led in crucial swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, and North Carolina. Recent surveys, however, show Trump ahead of Biden in all of these states.

Silver suggested that Biden’s age might be contributing to his declining support. He called it an “extremely understandable concern” for voters. “Biden’s age is something voters are overwhelmingly consistent about mentioning in polls,” Silver noted. “The concern has persisted through various phases of media vibes.”

“The side-by-side video comparisons of Biden now versus 2012 are also extremely revealing,” Silver continued. “There’s been an obvious change. I think it’s borderline gaslighting to imply it’s just a media/vibes thing.”

Silver also mentioned that Trump should also consider dropping out of the race. “Biden would lose by 7 points,” he said, referring to a scenario in which the presumptive Republican nominee is not the party’s presidential candidate.

Despite these concerns, the president has shown no indication that he plans to step aside before the anticipated matchup with Trump. Silver’s comments come when Biden’s approval ratings are critically low, which could have significant implications for the upcoming election.

In addition to age, Silver has pointed to the general dissatisfaction with Biden’s handling of various issues as a factor in his low approval ratings. This dissatisfaction could pose a severe challenge to his re-election campaign.

Silver’s analysis is based on data from recent surveys, which consistently show Biden trailing Trump in key battleground states. These states are crucial for securing an electoral victory.

The polling expert emphasized that while Biden’s age is a notable concern, it is not the only factor affecting his approval ratings. Voter sentiment about his overall performance in office also plays a significant role.

Silver has warned that Democrats must consider these factors carefully as they head into the 2024 election cycle. A strong candidate with broad appeal will be essential for the party’s success.

As the election approaches, both Biden and Trump face critical decisions about their campaigns. Their strategies and the public’s perception of their candidacies will be crucial in determining the outcome.

For now, Biden remains committed to seeking re-election despite the challenges highlighted by Silver. The president’s team will need to address these concerns and work to improve his standing with voters if he hopes to secure a second term.