A new survey released Sunday reflects Americans’ deep discontent with how President Biden is running the country — as only a paltry 4 percent believe things in America are going “very well.”
While the CBS News/YouGov poll pegs Biden’s job approval rating at 44 percent, which is higher than some other recent surveys, it also shows that he gets negative scores for his handling of inflation (67 percent), immigration (64 percent), the economy (61 percent), foreign policy (58 percent), and race relations (56 percent).
Biden is in positive territory for his distribution of the coronavirus vaccine — 53 percent.
Asked how they thought things were going in America, 70 percent say “somewhat” or “very badly,” while only 30 percent opt for “very” or “somewhat well.”
On the nation’s economy, the poll said 64 percent went with “fairly” or “very bad,” as opposed to the 30 percent who say it’s “very” or “fairly good.”
Americans overwhelmingly place the blame for the lackluster economy on inflation and rising costs (84 percent), along with gas prices (74 percent), shortages of products and services (71 percent), and businesses not returning to normal after the coronavirus shutdown (60 percent).
And inflation, which is at a three-decade high, is causing real hardships for American families.
Eighty percent say they are delaying buying big-ticket items, 79 percent are taking fewer trips, 78 percent are cutting back on gift shopping, and 71 percent are scaling back holiday celebrations.
And neither Democrats nor Republicans are immune from the effects of the supply chain disruptions, with 92 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of Democrats agreeing that items they usually buy are costing more, and 70 percent of Republicans and 53 percent say the items are often not in stock.
One thing in Biden’s favor is his $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that passed Congress earlier this month.
Fifty-eight percent approve of the bill and 42 percent disapprove.
But 42 percent of Americans say its passage didn’t change their view of Biden and the Democrats, while 27 percent say it makes them think “better” of them and 31 percent say it makes them think “worse” of them.
On immigration, 57 percent say Biden is “not tough enough,” 28 percent say he’s handling it “about right,” and only 15 percent believe he’s “too tough.”
Asked about whether immigrant families separated at the border should be compensated, 63 percent say no, 37 percent say yes.
Americans are nearly evenly split on why migrants make the trek to America.
Fifty-three percent say the migrants think the Biden administration will let them in, while 52 percent say they are looking for jobs and a better life, 34 percent say they are fleeing crime and violence, and 13 percent say they are criminals and gang members.
The poll surveyed 2,058 adults between Nov. 15-19. It has a plus/minus 3 percentage points margin of error.
