Dem
51
GOP
49
A new Hart Research/Public Opinion Strategies poll shows that 70% of Americans, including 57% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans, do not want Joe Biden to run for another term as president. However, 61% of Americans, including 88% of Democrats and 37% of Republicans, do not want Donald Trump to run for another term, either. But there is an decent chance that it will end up Biden vs. Trump again, despite hardly anyone wanting that. What's wrong with this picture? Or maybe: What's wrong with our system?
Biden has a lot working against him. He just celebrated his 80th birthday last month (Happy birthday, Joe!) and if he won in 2024, would be the oldest person ever to be elected president, although Trump (who will be 78 in Nov. 2024) would also break the record. In addition, with inflation raging, only 14% of the respondents said the economy is good or excellent. The survey also asked what the country's top priority should be, and 87% said it should be tackling inflation. However, note that this is now. In Nov. 2024, inflation is likely to be much lower due to the Fed's aggressive policy of raising interest rates. So inflation may not be the biggest issue in 2024. It might not even be the economy, although if the country is in a recession then, it could be unemployment.
For Democrats, the #2 issue after inflation is protecting the right to an abortion. For Republicans, it is reducing spending and the deficit.
The breakdown of respondents by partisanship was 42% voted for Biden and 41% voted for Trump, with the others voting for minor candidates or not voting. So it is probably a good sample.
Since it is also the holiday season (and the poll sponsor was CNBC), there was also a question about holiday gift shopping. Slightly more than half of all respondents (51%) plan to do most of their shopping online, another 21% plan to buy things in big box chain stores, and 16% plan on doing it in local stores. The rest are scattered over multiple categories.
For what it's worth, another financial question was about investments. Some 29% have over $50,000 in investments, 22% have less than $50,000 in stocks, 42% have no investments, and the rest aren't sure or refused to answer. (V)