Biden Approval Ratings: How Are The President's Numbers With The Midterms A Week Away?

With the midterm elections just a week away, President Joe Biden's approval ratings have slumped and his job disapproval ratings have increased steadily in the past 14 months. Biden has maintained a low profile during the election cycle as Republicans have attacked Democrat candidates for being too aligned with the White House.

Biden began his term with polls showing an approval rating as high as 63% and disapproval ratings showing 34% even in the midst of a tumultuous political climate, which included the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Like past presidents, Biden's approval rating lagged after a successful start to his administration.

By August 2021, Biden's net approval ratings began trending in the red. A USA Today/Suffolk poll showed Biden at a 41% approval rating and a dismal 55% disapproval rating at the time. Struggling to make good on many of his campaign promises, Biden's job approval had dropped to 36.8% by late July of this year.

Although Biden received a slight increase in approval ratings following a number of legislative victories in recent weeks, his disapproval ratings have continued to rise.

Biden currently holds a 39% job approval rating with 55% disapproval, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from Oct. 24-25. Biden's disapproval rating this time last year was four points lower at 51%.

Right-leaning Rasmussen Reports released a poll Tuesday that showed Biden at 46% approval and 53% disapproval. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted on Oct. 22-25 found identical numbers with a 46% approval rating and a 53% disapproval rating. His disapproval rating was 51% in an Economist/YouGov poll from Oct. 8 -11.

CBS News conducted a poll from Oct. 26- 28 that showed Biden with one of his highest recent disapproval ratings at 56%.

It's unclear how Biden's numbers will impact the midterm elections. As many political strategists have noted, Republican candidates in key senate races have not impressed voters.

"The weaknesses of individual Republican Senate candidates in toss-up races are a drag on the GOP's chances of flipping the upper chamber and are giving Democrats a reasonable chance of retaining their slim Senate majority in an otherwise weak year for the party," said Douglas E. Schoen, in a column for The Hill.