{"id":182448,"date":"2024-07-23T13:57:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T17:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=182448"},"modified":"2024-09-13T14:37:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T18:37:52","slug":"joe-biden-public-opinion-and-his-withdrawal-from-the-2024-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2024\/07\/23\/joe-biden-public-opinion-and-his-withdrawal-from-the-2024-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull has-ui-text-color-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6986a10bcba8bcfc9a4d7d66f666b01e\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;min-height:480px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span 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https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/gettyimages-1245981563-594x594-1.jpg?resize=160,107 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/gettyimages-1245981563-594x594-1.jpg?resize=320,213 320w\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-ui-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-h-one-font-size wp-elements-d56d225c7f2bc394bee949bdbb385fc9\" id=\"joe-biden-public-opinion-and-his-withdrawal-from-the-2024-race\">Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div style=\"font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display has-small-label-font-size is-layout-flex wp-container-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-08540703 wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-flex\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__bylines\"><span class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__prefix\">By<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/jocelyn-kiley\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Jocelyn Kiley\">Jocelyn Kiley<\/a> <span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__and-separator\">and<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/carroll-doherty\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Carroll Doherty\">Carroll Doherty<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group essay--toolbar has-white-background-color has-ui-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\"><div style=\"letter-spacing:1px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-gray-medium-color has-small-label-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2024-07-23T13:57:48-04:00\">July 23, 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-small-icon-size has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-7db6d9ff wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"--block-gap:inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-social-share-sheet\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/social-share-sheet&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=182448&quot;,&quot;hashtags&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image&quot;:false}\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.enabled\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=182448\" class=\"has-ui-gray-very-dark-color\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__solid icon__share\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/solid.svg#share\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/a>\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=182448&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;x&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=182448&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label 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2-1 .8 0 1.4.2 1.7.7.3.3.5.8.5 1.3-.7-.1-1.4-.2-2.2-.1-2.2.1-3.7 1.4-3.6 3.2 0 .9.5 1.7 1.3 2.2.7.4 1.5.6 2.4.6 1.2-.1 2.1-.5 2.7-1.3.5-.6.8-1.4.9-2.4.6.3 1 .8 1.2 1.3.4.9.4 2.4-.8 3.6-1.1 1.1-2.3 1.5-4.3 1.5-2.1 0-3.8-.7-4.8-2S5.7 14.3 5.7 12c0-2.3.5-4.1 1.5-5.4 1.1-1.3 2.7-2 4.8-2 2.2 0 3.8.7 4.9 2 .5.7.9 1.5 1.2 2.5l1.5-.4c-.3-1.2-.8-2.2-1.5-3.1-1.3-1.7-3.3-2.6-6-2.6-2.6 0-4.7.9-6 2.6C4.9 7.2 4.3 9.3 4.3 12s.6 4.8 1.9 6.4c1.4 1.7 3.4 2.6 6 2.6 2.3 0 4-.6 5.3-2 1.8-1.8 1.7-4 1.1-5.4-.4-.9-1.2-1.7-2.3-2.3zm-4 3.8c-1 .1-2-.4-2-1.3 0-.7.5-1.5 2.1-1.6h.5c.6 0 1.1.1 1.6.2-.2 2.3-1.3 2.7-2.2 2.7z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Threads<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=182448&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;linkedin&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=182448&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;whatsapp&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#565656\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-whatsapp has-ui-gray-very-dark-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M 12.011719 2 C 6.5057187 2 2.0234844 6.478375 2.0214844 11.984375 C 2.0204844 13.744375 2.4814687 15.462563 3.3554688 16.976562 L 2 22 L 7.2324219 20.763672 C 8.6914219 21.559672 10.333859 21.977516 12.005859 21.978516 L 12.009766 21.978516 C 17.514766 21.978516 21.995047 17.499141 21.998047 11.994141 C 22.000047 9.3251406 20.962172 6.8157344 19.076172 4.9277344 C 17.190172 3.0407344 14.683719 2.001 12.011719 2 z M 12.009766 4 C 14.145766 4.001 16.153109 4.8337969 17.662109 6.3417969 C 19.171109 7.8517969 20.000047 9.8581875 19.998047 11.992188 C 19.996047 16.396187 16.413812 19.978516 12.007812 19.978516 C 10.674812 19.977516 9.3544062 19.642812 8.1914062 19.007812 L 7.5175781 18.640625 L 6.7734375 18.816406 L 4.8046875 19.28125 L 5.2851562 17.496094 L 5.5019531 16.695312 L 5.0878906 15.976562 C 4.3898906 14.768562 4.0204844 13.387375 4.0214844 11.984375 C 4.0234844 7.582375 7.6067656 4 12.009766 4 z M 8.4765625 7.375 C 8.3095625 7.375 8.0395469 7.4375 7.8105469 7.6875 C 7.5815469 7.9365 6.9355469 8.5395781 6.9355469 9.7675781 C 6.9355469 10.995578 7.8300781 12.182609 7.9550781 12.349609 C 8.0790781 12.515609 9.68175 15.115234 12.21875 16.115234 C 14.32675 16.946234 14.754891 16.782234 15.212891 16.740234 C 15.670891 16.699234 16.690438 16.137687 16.898438 15.554688 C 17.106437 14.971687 17.106922 14.470187 17.044922 14.367188 C 16.982922 14.263188 16.816406 14.201172 16.566406 14.076172 C 16.317406 13.951172 15.090328 13.348625 14.861328 13.265625 C 14.632328 13.182625 14.464828 13.140625 14.298828 13.390625 C 14.132828 13.640625 13.655766 14.201187 13.509766 14.367188 C 13.363766 14.534188 13.21875 14.556641 12.96875 14.431641 C 12.71875 14.305641 11.914938 14.041406 10.960938 13.191406 C 10.218937 12.530406 9.7182656 11.714844 9.5722656 11.464844 C 9.4272656 11.215844 9.5585938 11.079078 9.6835938 10.955078 C 9.7955938 10.843078 9.9316406 10.663578 10.056641 10.517578 C 10.180641 10.371578 10.223641 10.267562 10.306641 10.101562 C 10.389641 9.9355625 10.347156 9.7890625 10.285156 9.6640625 C 10.223156 9.5390625 9.737625 8.3065 9.515625 7.8125 C 9.328625 7.3975 9.131125 7.3878594 8.953125 7.3808594 C 8.808125 7.3748594 8.6425625 7.375 8.4765625 7.375 z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joe Biden\u2019s extraordinary decision to not pursue the Democratic nomination for president has upended the 2024 presidential race, with Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-harris-dnc-next-steps-2024-election-13bbcca73ca682f16284cf8874011dfa\">Kamala Harris emerging<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-harris-dnc-next-steps-2024-election-13bbcca73ca682f16284cf8874011dfa\">as a strong favorite<\/a> for the Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Biden\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"job-approval\">Job approval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f3f3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-01.png?resize=480,613 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-01.png?resize=782,998 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-01.png?resize=840,1072 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"536\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-01.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows Biden\u2019s job rating in early July was among the lowest for presidents seeking reelection\" class=\"wp-image-182451 not-transparent\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biden\u2019s job approval ratings have been more negative than positive since late 2021. And only about a third of Americans have approved of his performance for the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Biden\u2019s approval rating was far higher in the early months of his presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>At about the 100-day mark of his presidency, Biden\u2019s 59% job rating was on par with approval of several recent presidents.<\/strong> It was 20 percentage points higher than Donald Trump\u2019s at a similar point in his presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The early days of Biden\u2019s presidency <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2021\/04\/15\/biden-nears-100-day-mark-with-strong-approval-positive-rating-for-vaccine-rollout\/\">featured some notable successes<\/a>, including the manufacture and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine (which began development under the Trump administration) and passage of a $2 trillion coronavirus economic aid package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 proved to be a pivotal moment in Biden\u2019s first year \u2013 and, ultimately, in his presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only about <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/08\/31\/majority-of-u-s-public-favors-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-biden-criticized-for-his-handling-of-situation\/\">a quarter of Americans<\/a> (26%) \u2013 including fewer than half of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents \u2013 said the administration had done an excellent or good job of handling the situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This period also saw a new variant, and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2022\/03\/03\/the-changing-political-geography-of-covid-19-over-the-last-two-years\/\">related surge<\/a>, of COVID-19\u00a0\u2013 delaying the expected \u201creturn to normal\u201d following the vaccine rollout earlier in the year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Biden\u2019s overall job approval declined 11 points, from 55% to 44%, between July and September 2021. It has never been in positive territory since then.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2023\/12\/14\/assessments-of-joe-biden\/#public-confidence-in-biden-to-handle-key-issues-remains-low\">Confidence in Biden\u2019s handling of issues<\/a> largely followed this same trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"age-and-fitness\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Age and fitness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concerns about Biden\u2019s age and fitness to serve have been present since he ran for president in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In August 2020, Pew Research Center asked registered voters in an open-ended question if they had any potential concerns about the candidate they supported. Nearly a third of Biden supporters named <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2020\/08\/13\/perceptions-of-trump-and-biden\/\">his age or health<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2020\/10\/09\/amid-campaign-turmoil-biden-holds-wide-leads-on-coronavirus-unifying-the-country\/\">weeks before the 2020 election<\/a>, Biden was seen by more Americans as honest or compassionate than Trump was, and a larger share described him as a good role model. But Trump had a slight advantage when it came to being \u201cmentally sharp.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While perceptions of some of Biden\u2019s personal traits and characteristics have changed little in the past four years, that\u2019s not the case for his mental acuity: The share of voters who view Biden as mentally sharp declined steadily over the course of his presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f4f4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f4f4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?resize=480,288 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?resize=782,469 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?resize=960,576 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?resize=1200,720 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?resize=1280,768 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"384\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-02.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows The share of voters describing Biden as \u2018mentally sharp\u2019 had declined long before his June debate\" class=\"wp-image-182452 not-transparent\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In March 2021, 53% of voters said that \u201cmentally sharp\u201d described Biden very or fairly well. That dropped 20 percentage points over the next two years, to 33% in April 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It fell another 9 points, to 24%, following his performance in the June 27 debate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This pattern is evident in perceptions of Biden\u2019s other personal traits associated with his age, such as whether he is energetic. In January, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2024\/01\/25\/bidens-job-rating-personal-traits-and-whether-he-will-be-a-successful-president\/\">only 24% of Americans described Biden as energetic<\/a>, a 16-point drop from 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"bidens-support-has-long-been-more-about-who-he-isnt-than-who-he-is\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biden\u2019s support has long been more about who he isn\u2019t than who he is<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biden trailed Trump in many national surveys in the final weeks of his 2024 campaign. Those margins, including 4 percentage points in <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2024\/07\/11\/amid-doubts-about-bidens-mental-sharpness-trump-leads-presidential-race\/\">our most recent national survey<\/a>, may not have boded well for the Democrat \u2013 though candidates have overcome larger deficits at this point in the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e7e1d8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e7e1d8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-03.png?resize=480,695 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-03.png?resize=620,898 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"449\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/07\/PP_2024.7.23_biden-withdraws_0-03.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows In early July, 7 in 10 Biden voters said they would replace both Biden and Trump on the ballot if they could\" class=\"wp-image-182453 not-transparent\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But among Biden\u2019s own supporters, there were widespread concerns about his age and health \u2013 and his ability to beat Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From the outset of his 2020 campaign, much of Biden\u2019s support has been defined not by who Biden <em>is<\/em> but by who he is <em>not<\/em>. In 2020, asked in an open-ended question why they supported Biden, a majority of his supporters said simply: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2020\/08\/13\/perceptions-of-trump-and-biden\/\">He is not Trump<\/a>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heading into the general election this year, the 2024 election was shaping up to be a record battle not just because of the age of the two candidates, but because of the historic size of the share of Americans who didn\u2019t like either one of them. A quarter of Americans fell into this group of so-called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/06\/14\/biden-trump-are-least-liked-pair-of-major-party-presidential-candidates-in-at-least-3-decades\/\">double negatives<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of April, nearly half of registered voters (49%) said they wanted to see both candidates replaced on the ballot \u2013 and Biden supporters (62%) were considerably more likely than Trump supporters to say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following Biden\u2019s poor showing in the June 27 debate, his own supporters\u2019 calls for him to be replaced only increased. By early July, 71% of voters who backed Biden also said they would prefer to see both candidates replaced on the ballot.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on public opinion of Joe Biden as context for his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the public opinion data in this analysis comes from Pew Research Center surveys over the course of Biden\u2019s presidency and has been featured in recent Center reports. Links to these reports, including details about the survey methodology, are available in the text. The first chart on presidential approval includes data from the Gallup organization on Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush\u2019s presidential approval ratings.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Photo: President Joe Biden talks to reporters&nbsp;outside the White House&nbsp;before boarding Marine One in January 2023. (Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential 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Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race","parent_id":182448},"materialsOrdered":[],"chaptersOrdered":[],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race","description":"Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.","og_title":"Joe Biden, Public Opinion and His Withdrawal From the 2024 Race","og_description":"Here are some of the key public opinion dynamics around Joe Biden\u2019s choice to not pursue the Democratic nomination for the 2024 presidential race.","schema_type":"Article","noindex":false,"canonical_url":"","primary_terms":{"category":426,"formats":463,"research-teams":520},"custom_schema":[],"og_image":182557,"indexnow_submitted_at":null,"gsc_index_status":null},"prepublish_checks":{"prc-image-alt-text":{"status":"complete","message":"All images have alt 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