Stimmy Bounce? President Joe Biden’s Net Approval Ticks Up 4 Points as Covid Relief Checks Start to Hit

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President Joe Biden’s net approval ticked up 4 points in a poll that was only partially taken as direct payments from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan began to hit Americans’ bank accounts.

In the last CBS News/YouGov poll taken between March 9 and March 10, 60 percent of Americans approved of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president, versus 40 percent who disapproved.

But in the poll taken between March 10 and March 13, 62 percent approved of Biden while 38 percent disapproved, a gain of four net approval points. The polling period encompasses the first day and a half during which the $1,400.00 direct payments began showing up in bank accounts via direct deposit to well-publicized celebration.

Among Republicans, Biden’s gain was even greater, as his net approval improved by six points among GOP voters — or rather, his net disapproval shrank by 6.

It’s a relatively small gain, but an early indication of the effect the relief bill may have on the Biden/Harris administration’s political fortunes. The latest result also represents President Biden’s best performance to date in YouGov’s approval polls.

And this is with tens of millions of Americans still having not received direct payments that could total more than $14,000.00 for some families, and as President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris — as well as other members of the administration — fan out across the country to lay out the benefits of the relief plan to individuals, families, businesses, and schools as well.

The approval polls to date have told a tale of intractable polarization, with Biden recording a record high within his own party and a record low with the opposition. But the Covid relief bill has consistently polled near 80 percent, and while Biden may never get above 50 percent with Republicans, the legislation could melt the partisan glacier a little bit.