Many Democrats believe US President Joe Biden should drop out of the race after his poor debate performance
According to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll, Michelle Obama, the wife of former US President Barack Obama, is the only potential Democratic candidate who could defeat Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in November’s election.
Democratic voters are increasingly concerned about President Joe Biden’s ability to secure a second term in office this year, especially after his debate with Trump. During the debate, the 81-year-old incumbent appeared weak and confused, struggling to complete his sentences.
Ipsos, a market research company, surveyed a representative sample of 1,070 US adults for Reuters on July 1 and July 2. The sample included 892 registered voters, 348 Democrats, 322 Republicans, and 303 independents.
The poll suggests that if an election were held today, both Biden and Trump would win an estimated 40% of the votes. However, about three in five voters, including nearly one-third of Democrats, believe Biden should withdraw from the race entirely and that his party should put forward a new candidate, even at this late stage.
According to the poll, most of Biden’s potential replacements lack the public support or recognition needed to defeat Trump on November 5. In hypothetical matchups against Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris trailed the Republican candidate by one point, while others, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, performed even worse.
The poll suggests that Michelle Obama is the only person who could defeat Trump. In a hypothetical matchup against the former president, 50% of registered voters said they would vote for her, compared to 39% who said they would vote for Trump.
The former first lady also appears to have a better public image than other candidates. The survey showed that about 42% of voters have a favorable opinion of Trump, compared to 38% who have a favorable opinion of Biden. However, Obama had an approval rating of 55%, exceeding all other potential Democratic candidates.
Despite last week’s debate performance, which they have tried to downplay as just a “bad night,” Biden and his team have indicated they have no plans to withdraw from the race. The Democratic Party has also publicly rallied behind the president.
However, media reports suggest that many top Democratic donors privately want Biden off the November 5 ticket. Even Biden’s public allies, including Barack Obama, have reportedly been “telling people Biden can’t win” in private.