Biden’s Net Approval Jumps 9 Points in Post-Stimulus Poll
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President Joe Biden’s net approval jumped 9 points in a poll that was taken after tens of millions of direct payments from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan hit Americans’ bank accounts.
Earlier this week, we reported that President Biden’s net approval edged up 4 points during a polling period that only included a day and a half of stimulus direct deposits that ignited widespread celebration on social media.
Since then, over 90 million direct payments totaling hundreds of billions of dollars have been delivered, and in a new poll taken Wednesday ad Thursday, Biden’s net approval has surged even more.
In last week’s Reuters/Ipsos poll, 54 percent of Americans approved of Biden’s job performance versus 39 percent who disapproved, a net approval of +15. In the new poll, 59 percent approve and 35 percent disapprove, a net approval of +24.
The president saw his greatest gains among independents and Republicans, while his already sky-high approval among Democrats only climbed by one point.
Biden’s approval could climb even higher as the payments continue, and as the effects of the stimulus are felt. But the size and durability of Biden’s ceiling could end up being hampered by the deep-seated polarization that has been reflected in approval polls thus far.
The poll also found that President Biden gets low marks — 41 percent approval — on the issue of immigration, which takes a (rather distant) 4th place in issue importance to respondents, with Covid, the economy, and jobs considered higher priorities. But immigration is getting a lot of media attention, as the administration deals with a surge in unaccompanied minors at the border.
In Gallup’s first tracking poll of this presidency, Biden recording a record high within his own party and a record low with the opposition. And in their most recent monthly approval poll, the president had slipped from a high of 57 percent approval to 54 percent, taken over the first 15 days in March. Gallup’s next poll should give a better indication what the lasting effects of the stimulus will be on the president’s approval.
