A recent poll reveals that only 42% of Democrat respondents are satisfied with Biden as their candidate, raising concerns about his mental stability.
President Biden faces a crucial test of his mental acuity tonight as he prepares to engage in his first presidential debate since taking office. A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press in partnership with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has exposed an unsettling level of dissatisfaction within the Democratic base regarding Biden's mental fitness for office.
According to the poll, only 42% of Democrat respondents expressed satisfaction with Biden as their candidate. This dismal figure stands in stark contrast to the significantly higher satisfaction rate among Republicans, with approximately six in 10 respondents expressing confidence in Trump as their standard-bearer.
Biden's 'Mental Stability' a Major Concern Ahead of Debate
Biden's cognitive abilities have been a subject of persistent scrutiny since his election. The release of various videos depicting moments of apparent confusion and frailty have fueled concerns among both allies and opponents alike. In an apparent attempt to address these concerns, Biden has spent the last five days secluded at Camp David, where he has huddled with a team of advisers to prepare for the upcoming debate.
Informed sources have revealed that the preparation process has been focused on developing strategies to "trigger" Trump and force him off message. Biden's team has been studying Trump's past debate performances and identifying potential weak points to exploit. The goal is to portray Trump as unfit for office and highlight Biden's own composure and experience.
Biden's 'Mental Stability' a Major Concern Ahead of Debate
Meanwhile, Trump has adopted a more relaxed approach to debate prep, engaging in "policy discussions" with allies rather than conducting mock debates. At a recent rally, he joked with the crowd about his approach, asking if he should be "tough and nasty" or "nice and calm" during the debate.
Trump's campaign has sought to capitalize on the concerns surrounding Biden's mental health, releasing a barrage of ads and statements highlighting perceived moments of confusion. However, the Trump camp has faced criticism for its own lack of coherent policy positions and its focus on personal attacks.
Biden's 'Mental Stability' a Major Concern Ahead of Debate
The poll also revealed a generational divide in support for the two candidates. 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, while approximately 37% of young Georgia voters planned to vote for Trump.
Despite the stark differences in satisfaction levels among party lines, the two candidates experience similar 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. However, approximately seven in 10 Republicans expressed positive feelings about Trump, while a similar seven in 10 Democrats said the same about Biden.
Biden's 'Mental Stability' a Major Concern Ahead of Debate
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,088 adults selected to be representative of the U.S. population, drawn from the NORC AmeriSpeak Panel. It has a sampling error of +/-4%.
