Biden Underwater On Job Approval And Handling Of Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; More Than 6 In 10 Americans Believe U.S. Troops Will Return To Afghanistan
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Americans' views have dimmed on the way President Joe Biden is handling his job as president, with 42 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today. This is the first time Biden's job approval has dropped into negative territory since taking office. In early August, 46 percent of Americans approved and 43 percent disapproved of the way Biden was handling his job.
In today's poll, Democrats approve 88 - 7 percent, while Republicans disapprove 91 - 7 percent and independents disapprove 52 - 34 percent.
Biden's numbers on his handling of the response to the coronavirus are mixed, with 48 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving. This compares to August, when he received a 53 - 40 percent approval rating on his handling of the coronavirus.
Americans give him a negative score on his handling of foreign policy, 34 - 59 percent. In August, 42 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved of his handling of foreign policy. They also give Biden a negative score on his handling of his job as Commander in Chief of the U.S. military, with 40 percent approving and 55 percent disapproving.
On his handling of the economy, Biden receives a negative 42 - 52 percent rating. In August, it was a slightly negative 43 - 48 percent rating.
On his handling of climate change, Americans are divided, as 42 percent approve and 45 percent disapprove. This compares to a positive 48 - 35 percent approval rating in August.
"If there ever was a honeymoon for President Biden, it is clearly over. This is, with few exceptions, a poll full of troubling negatives... from overall job approval, to foreign policy, to the economy," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
AFGHANISTAN
More than half of Americans, 54 - 41 percent, say they approve of President Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Nearly 7 in 10 Americans, 69 - 24 percent, say it was the right thing to do to end the war in Afghanistan.
However, Americans give Biden a negative 31 - 65 percent score for the way he handled withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
More than 6 in 10 Americans, 62 - 28 percent, say they think American troops will have to return to Afghanistan to fight terrorism. Republicans say 83 - 10 percent and independents say 65 - 25 percent that they think American troops will have to return to Afghanistan to fight terrorism, while Democrats say 52 - 38 percent they think American troops will not have to return to Afghanistan to fight terrorism.
"'The pullout is over, but boots will be back on the ground eventually,' predict voters, who clearly see a looming terrorist threat churning in the cauldron that is Afghanistan," added Malloy.
SATISFACTION
A majority of Americans (70 percent) say they are very dissatisfied (46 percent) or somewhat dissatisfied (24 percent) with the way things are going in the nation today. Almost 3 in 10 (29 percent) say that they are very satisfied (3 percent) or somewhat satisfied (26 percent).
CONGRESS
Americans give Republicans in Congress their lowest job approval rating since February 2021: a negative 23 - 65 percent rating. Democrats in Congress also receive a negative job approval, 37 - 53 percent, which is the lowest rating they have received since February 2021.
1,210 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from September 10th - 13th with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 7% 88% 34% 36% 47% 56% 28% Disapprove 50 91 7 52 55 45 39 65 DK/NA 9 1 5 14 9 8 5 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 34% 40% 40% 54% 30% 43% 37% 69% 38% Disapprove 50 54 55 39 64 50 57 18 47 DK/NA 16 6 5 7 6 7 6 13 15 -
Question 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve strongly 24% 2% 57% 17% 18% 31% 35% 16% Approve smwht 16 5 29 16 18 15 21 11 Disapprove smwht 8 4 5 13 8 8 5 5 Disapprove strongly 41 87 2 38 46 37 33 59 DK/NA 10 2 7 15 10 10 6 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve strongly 10% 24% 29% 37% 15% 29% 23% 39% 26% Approve smwht 24 15 11 14 15 14 14 27 12 Disapprove smwht 17 5 6 3 6 5 5 11 14 Disapprove strongly 33 48 48 36 57 45 51 7 33 DK/NA 16 8 6 10 7 7 7 16 15 -
Question 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 23% 50% 9% 20% 26% 21% 18% 29% Disapprove 65 38 88 67 64 67 76 61 DK/NA 11 12 4 13 10 12 7 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 25% 22% 23% 25% 27% 23% 25% 14% 25% Disapprove 58 70 68 65 67 66 66 73 58 DK/NA 17 9 9 10 7 11 9 12 17 -
Question 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 37% 6% 80% 30% 31% 42% 49% 25% Disapprove 53 89 15 56 60 47 46 68 DK/NA 10 5 4 15 9 11 5 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 35% 34% 34% 45% 27% 38% 33% 61% 39% Disapprove 47 58 59 48 68 54 60 27 43 DK/NA 18 8 7 7 5 8 7 12 17 -
Question 4. If the election were today, would you want to see the Republican Party or the Democratic Party win control of the United States House of Representatives?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Republican Party 42% 93% 2% 38% 46% 37% 37% 58% Democratic Party 45 4 94 40 39 50 55 32 DK/NA 14 4 4 22 15 12 8 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Republican Party 36% 43% 48% 41% 57% 45% 51% 7% 35% Democratic Party 42 45 41 51 35 44 40 76 43 DK/NA 22 13 11 8 8 11 9 18 23 -
Question 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - the response to the coronavirus?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 48% 12% 92% 44% 41% 54% 63% 33% Disapprove 49 86 6 53 55 43 35 63 DK/NA 4 2 2 4 4 3 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 43% 41% 48% 60% 37% 49% 44% 76% 46% Disapprove 53 54 49 37 60 48 53 18 51 DK/NA 4 5 3 3 2 4 3 6 2 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 59% 42% 47% 45% 54% 54% 33% Disapprove 39 56 48 50 41 45 63 DK/NA 2 2 5 5 5 2 4 -
Question 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - the economy?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 6% 85% 39% 37% 47% 51% 29% Disapprove 52 91 10 55 57 47 43 66 DK/NA 6 2 5 6 6 6 6 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 37% 38% 42% 52% 30% 42% 36% 76% 44% Disapprove 52 58 56 43 65 53 59 17 51 DK/NA 10 4 2 6 5 5 5 7 5 -
Question 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - foreign policy?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 34% 4% 74% 28% 29% 38% 48% 23% Disapprove 59 93 18 64 65 52 47 71 DK/NA 8 3 8 8 6 10 5 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 26% 28% 35% 47% 26% 36% 31% 51% 32% Disapprove 64 62 60 48 71 56 63 35 59 DK/NA 9 10 4 6 3 8 6 14 8 -
Question 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling - climate change?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 10% 83% 36% 38% 45% 57% 30% Disapprove 45 82 12 44 50 40 35 59 DK/NA 13 8 6 20 12 14 8 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 35% 40% 40% 52% 35% 42% 39% 65% 38% Disapprove 46 47 49 39 56 46 51 16 43 DK/NA 20 13 11 9 8 11 10 19 18 -
Question 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 40% 5% 83% 37% 37% 43% 49% 29% Disapprove 55 93 14 56 59 51 45 68 DK/NA 5 3 4 7 4 6 5 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 32% 38% 39% 52% 30% 41% 36% 69% 41% Disapprove 61 57 57 44 68 53 60 22 54 DK/NA 8 6 3 4 3 5 4 9 5 -
Question 12. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 3% 1% 7% 1% 3% 3% 3% 1% Smwht satisfied 26 5 50 22 24 27 28 17 Smwht dissatisfied 24 17 28 27 25 23 30 21 Very dissatisfied 46 76 14 48 46 45 38 60 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 2 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very satisfied 1% 2% 6% 3% 1% 2% 2% 5% 5% Smwht satisfied 24 24 21 33 18 23 21 45 28 Smwht dissatisfied 31 23 22 22 25 23 24 22 31 Very dissatisfied 44 50 49 40 54 51 53 23 34 DK/NA - 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 -
Question 13. As you may know, President Biden decided to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Do you approve or disapprove of President Biden's decision?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 54% 27% 85% 51% 50% 58% 64% 42% Disapprove 41 70 12 43 45 38 31 53 DK/NA 5 3 3 6 5 4 5 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 56% 47% 53% 60% 48% 51% 50% 72% 57% Disapprove 39 48 43 37 47 44 46 18 40 DK/NA 5 6 4 3 4 5 5 9 3 -
Question 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden handled withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 31% 8% 62% 24% 29% 33% 34% 20% Disapprove 65 91 35 68 67 62 62 76 DK/NA 4 1 4 7 4 5 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 30% 25% 28% 41% 21% 28% 25% 53% 38% Disapprove 65 70 70 54 77 66 71 39 59 DK/NA 6 5 2 5 2 5 4 8 3 -
Question 15. Do you think ending the war with Afghanistan was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Right thing 69% 48% 90% 69% 70% 68% 79% 62% Wrong thing 24 45 6 24 26 23 17 30 DK/NA 7 7 4 8 4 9 5 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Right thing 67% 63% 70% 74% 69% 66% 67% 81% 69% Wrong thing 26 28 25 20 27 23 25 12 28 DK/NA 7 9 5 6 4 11 7 8 3 -
Question 16. Do you support or oppose accepting Afghan refugees into the U.S.?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 60% 30% 87% 62% 58% 62% 76% 49% Oppose 32 62 9 31 36 29 19 43 DK/NA 7 8 4 8 6 8 5 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 67% 58% 57% 59% 57% 59% 58% 70% 63% Oppose 26 33 36 34 38 32 35 22 32 DK/NA 8 9 6 7 5 9 7 8 4 -
Question 17. Do you support or oppose accepting Afghan refugees if they assisted the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 83% 72% 91% 84% 83% 82% 93% 79% Oppose 14 26 6 13 16 13 5 19 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 1 5 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 82% 85% 83% 83% 85% 82% 83% 83% 81% Oppose 16 13 14 12 15 14 15 12 16 DK/NA 2 2 3 4 - 4 2 5 3 -
Question 18. Do you think American troops will have to return to Afghanistan to fight terrorism, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Return 62% 83% 38% 65% 69% 56% 50% 70% No 28 10 52 25 25 31 35 20 DK/NA 10 7 11 10 6 13 14 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Return 64% 74% 63% 44% 68% 59% 63% 53% 65% No 29 18 27 41 26 25 25 41 30 DK/NA 6 8 10 15 6 16 11 7 5