President Joe Biden has depressed Democrats with his slow-moving agenda, House and Senate Democrats are at war over his infrastructure and social spending and taxes, and foreign leaders are looking for some direction out of the White House.
But for this week’s White House Report Card, pollster John Zogby at least has made one better than not determination: Biden’s polling free fall is over.
However, he added, Biden is far from turning things around and remains essentially “stuck,” Zogby, a Democratic pollster, said in grading an average “C.” Our conservative grader, Jed Babbin, was away.
John Zogby
GRADE: C
Let’s put things in perspective first.
Biden’s polling numbers are not in free fall. His average approval rating is 45%. He is polling as low as 43% in some polls, 47% in others. But his numbers are not good. They are about 6 percentage points lower than when he was elected, and that is especially disappointing because presidents should be able to ride a post-election wave into a successful first year.
He also raised expectations when he assured the public that he would be different, be respected overseas, and would simply get the job done. But at the moment, he is stuck.
He was able to work with Congress to avert a government shutdown, but that is not an accomplishment. His ambitious plans for infrastructure improvements and social spending are in gridlock due to an intraparty squabble that may or may not be resolved. Both progressives and centrists are dug in. Biden cannot expect any help from Republicans, so his reputation as being able to cross the aisle and cajole even some opponents is not going to happen.
He should have been able to fulfill a promise to obtain a victory on infrastructure this week, but it did not happen. Maybe next week? Maybe not? But at the very least, government workers will be working and get paid.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @ZogbyStrategies
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
