A significant majority of Americans believe that President Biden should not run for re-election, citing concerns about his mental fitness for the job.
A nationwide survey conducted by the AP-NORC Public Affairs Research Center found that seven out of ten Americans believe President Joe Biden should withdraw from the presidential race. Among Democrats, the figure is slightly lower, at 65%. This marks a significant increase from the roughly one-third who felt this way in February.
Overall, roughly 70% of Americans are not confident that Biden possesses the mental capacity to serve effectively as president.
The 81-year-old politician has faced scrutiny throughout his presidential campaign regarding his cognitive and physical abilities. Concerns intensified following a recent debate with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, where Biden appeared to struggle with his thoughts and speech. This has led to dissent within the Democratic Party, with many urging Biden to step aside.
President Biden has dismissed these concerns, attributing his performance at the debate to fatigue and illness. He has also repeatedly stated he will only withdraw from the race if ordered to do so or if convinced by “God Almighty”. He maintains that he is the best candidate to defeat Trump.
The survey indicates that while few Americans are confident in either Biden or Trump’s mental fitness for the presidency, they are more inclined to favor Trump.
While only 14% of respondents expressed confidence in Biden’s mental capacity, 30% felt confident in Trump’s. The poll also found that more Americans believe Trump can win the election and that he is better equipped to handle a crisis.
The poll was conducted between July 11th and 15th among 1,253 American adults.