Biden’s approval drops to 36% in another ominous poll

In a troubling sign for Democrats, President Joe Biden’s approval rating dropped to 36 per cent in a new poll out Thursday and most voters said they want to see Republicans take control of Congress.

The new numbers – from a Quinnipiac University Poll – indicate a level of frustration among voters with the party in power as the country prepares for next year’s midterm election.

Only 36 per cent in the poll approved of the job President Biden is doing while 53 per cent disapproved. It’s the lowest job approval rating he’s received in a Quinnipiac University poll.

Biden’s approval rating has been on a downward slide in the month of November, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. A CNN poll at the start of the month had his approval rating at 45 per cent.

In the Quinnipiac poll, 46 per cent said they want to see Republicans win control of the House – compared to 38 per cent who want Democrats — and 46 per cent want the GOP in the charge of the Senate, compared to 40 per cent who favor Democrats.

Independent voters, who typically decide matters in elections, also want to see Republicans in charge of Congress: 41 per cent to 31 per cent  for the House and 44 per cent to 34 per cent for the Senate. 

Additionally, a slight majority of Americans – 52 per cent – said the Democratic Party has moved to the left. 

Historically, the president’s party tends to do badly in the first midterms after they take office. Both Barack Obama and Donald Trump saw their respective parties lose control of the House of Representatives in their first midterms – 2010 and 2018. 

Republicans only need to win four House seats to take control of the lower chamber of Congress. 

And 15 House Democrats have already announced their retirement or a run for another office this cycle. The House is also undergoing the redistricting process, which is expected to favor Republicans. 

The Senate is an even 50-50 split but most of the competitive races are in states Biden carried in the 2020 election, which is keeping Democratic hopes up. 

But their loss in Virginia’s gubenatorial campaign this month – where Democrat Terry McAuliffe fell to Republican Glenn Youngkin – has Republican hopes rising they can take control of Congress next year. 

Biden won Virginia with 10 points in 2020.

Republicans hadn’t won statewide in Virginia since 2009. That year Bob McDonnell was able to capitalize on a backlash against Barack Obama’s presidential win to take the state. His victory preceded a GOP wave that gave Republicans control of the House in the 2010 midterms.

Youngkin won with a surge of support from white women and, more critically, the suburban areas that tend to decide elections.  Youngkin carried the suburbs 53% to McAuliffe’s 47%. In 2020, Biden carried those same suburbs 53% to Donald Trump’s 45%.