National Review: Biden’s Poor Approval Ratings Could Drag Down State-Level Dems in Midterms, New Poll Shows

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President Biden’s poor approval ratings could hurt state-level Democrats in the upcoming midterms, according to a new poll of voters in key battleground states. 

Fifty-one percent of voters in a recent Cygnal survey commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) said they would prefer a Republican candidate who would act as a check and balance on President Biden and his policies. Just 40 percent said they would prefer a Democratic candidate who would support Biden and his policies. 

The poll showed Republican state legislative candidates with a six-point lead on the generic ballot, with Republicans leading self-identified independent voters by 15 points. 

Meanwhile, Biden’s approval rating remains under water: 54 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of the president, while just 44 percent had a favorable view, the poll found. 

Democrats in Washington, D.C., and state governments also struggled to garner support. Fifty-one percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of Democrats in Washington, while 42 percent had a favorable view. Democrats in state legislatures had a favorability rating of 44 percent, while 49 percent had an unfavorable view. 

Republicans in state government were the only group with a net positive image, of 48 percent favorability and 43 percent disapproval. 

Likely voters had a pessimistic outlook on the state of the country, with just 34 percent saying the country is on the right track. A whopping 62 percent believe it is on the wrong track.  

The poll found voters trusted Republicans more than Democrats on an array of important issues, including the economy and inflation. 

Ninety-six percent of those surveyed said the economy is an important issue as they consider who to vote for this year. Voters trusted Republicans in state government more than Democrats – 51 percent to 38 percent. 

Ninety-five percent of those surveyed said the high cost of living and inflation is an important issue, with state Republicans having a 49 percent to 39 percent advantage on the issue. Crime and violence was another important issue among respondents — 94 percent of those surveyed said it is important to them — and state Republicans have a 50 percent to 38 percent advantage on the issue. 

Meanwhile, the survey also showed state Republicans leading Democrats on education — 44 percent to 43 percent — gains driven by respondents’ trust in Republicans to protect parental control in education. 

The survey shows Democrats barely lead Republicans on Covid-19 or voting rights, despite the party having made those issues a major part of their platform. 

Just 84 percent of voters said Covid-19 was an important issue to them. Democrats led Republicans on Covid-19 44 percent to 42 percent. Eighty-six percent said voting rights was an important issue; Democrats lead Republicans on the issue 45 percent to 43 percent. 

The survey of 2,217 likely general election voters in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin was conducted between January 19 and 20 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent.