Biden's Uneasy Support Base Enters First Presidential Debate

A new poll reveals that only 42% of Democrat respondents are satisfied with Biden as their candidate, while approximately six in 10 Republicans are satisfied with Trump.

President Biden enters the first presidential debate with a noticeably uneasy base of support, according to a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press in partnership with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll, released on Wednesday, dissected the public's attitudes towards the candidates heading into the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday.

The poll results indicate that only 42% of Democrat respondents expressed satisfaction with Biden as their candidate. This dissatisfaction is particularly evident among younger voters, as a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll found that only 12% of Georgia voters between the ages of 18 and 29 intended to vote for Biden.

Biden's Uneasy Support Base Enters First Presidential Debate

In contrast, approximately six in 10 Republicans are satisfied with Trump as their party's candidate, according to the AP poll. About three in 10 adults are dissatisfied with both candidates.

The poll also revealed that Republicans are more likely to be satisfied with Trump as their candidate than Democrats are satisfied with Biden. However, the two candidates experience nearly identical levels of positivity and negativity across party lines. Approximately nine in 10 Democrats expressed negative feelings towards Trump, while nine in 10 Republicans said the same about Biden. Approximately seven in 10 Republicans expressed positive feelings about Trump, while a similar seven in 10 Democrats said the same about Biden.

Biden's Uneasy Support Base Enters First Presidential Debate

Biden has spent the last five days at Camp David in rural Maryland huddling with at least 16 current and former aides, according to The New York Times. The preparation has focused on developing strategies to "trigger" Trump and push back on claims that he is confused and frail.

Trump, on the other hand, has held "policy discussions" with allies to prep for the debate. He has been practicing his responses to Biden's expected attacks on issues like immigration and abortion.

Biden's Uneasy Support Base Enters First Presidential Debate

The poll suggests that Biden's debate performance will be crucial in swaying public opinion. With his support base already expressing unease, a strong showing in the debate could bolster his chances of securing a second term. However, a lackluster performance could further erode his support and make it difficult for him to win the election.

The debate is set to take place on Thursday at CNN's Atlanta studios. It is expected to be an epic clash between two vastly different candidates with divergent views on the major issues facing the country. The outcome of the debate could have a significant impact on the trajectory of the election.

Biden's Uneasy Support Base Enters First Presidential Debate