A recent survey conducted exclusively for Newsweek indicates that a significant majority of those who voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election would support him dropping out of the 2024 White House race.
The Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll of 1,500 eligible U.S. voters found that 54% of 2020 Biden voters favor him stepping aside for the upcoming election, with only 21% opposing this notion. Among all respondents, including those who voted Democrat in 2020, 45% support Biden leaving the race, while 30% are opposed.
Criticism from Republican opponents has largely targeted Biden’s age and mental acuity, especially as he is likely to face 77-year-old Donald Trump in November. Both Biden and Trump secured victories on ‘Super Tuesday’, positioning themselves as frontrunners for their respective parties nominations.
The survey asked participants whether they would support or oppose Biden ending his campaign for the Democratic nomination in 2024. Among 2020 Biden voters, 54% expressed some level of support for him stepping aside, with only 21% opposed.
Of those who voted for Trump in 2020, 42% supported Biden dropping out, indicating a divided sentiment within the electorate.
In the event of Biden’s withdrawal from the race, the survey revealed a lack of consensus on his potential successor within the Democratic Party. Vice-President Kamala Harris emerged as the frontrunner with 15% support, followed by Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama with 10% each.
However, 29% of respondents indicated uncertainty regarding the preferred nominee if Biden were to exit the race. Despite calls for Biden’s withdrawal, a recent Morning Consult survey suggests a tight race between Biden and Trump, with Biden leading by one point among registered voters.
Biden’s recent State of the Union address accused Trump of being subservient to Russia and attempting to distort the truth about the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, drawing criticism from Trump for its divisive tone.
