This week’s White House Report Card finds President Joe Biden spinning a couple of legislative advancements as the start of a political comeback.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had cut a minimalist deal with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, opening the door to the passage of a bill that includes some of Biden’s agenda on climate and drugs. But even though Manchin caved in, there remain questions about what another Democratic spending hawk, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, will do.
In the House, a gun ban on semi-automatic rifles passed, but there’s little expectation that the Senate will ban America’s top-selling firearm, especially with violent crime spiking nationally and minorities and women lining up to buy defensive arms.
Then there is a confusing economy. Inflation is up, a recession has begun, but people are continuing to spend and get jobs.
Somehow, someway, Joe Biden is back in the game.
After enduring a brutal year, Biden is suddenly on the verge of a turnaround that, the White House believes, could salvage his summer — and alter the trajectory of his presidency. https://t.co/XlQT2QNKoy
— POLITICO (@politico) July 28, 2022
The week confused politicians and the media, with those favoring Biden calling it a comeback and those critical of the White House calling it another setback.
Democratic pollster John Zogby graded the week an average C+ and said it was a pick-your-numbers week. Our conservative grader, Jed Babbin, was away this week.
John Zogby
Grade: C+
There were lots of numbers this week. Some suggested that Biden has painted himself into a corner; others appear like he might have very well turned a corner.
First, the bad numbers. A new report revealed that the GDP achieved negative growth for the second quarter in a row. In one book, that means the United States is officially in a recession. Earlier in the week, a new survey showed that consumer confidence is plummeting.
At the same time, 75% of Democrats say they do not want Biden heading the party’s ticket in 2024. Adding insult to injury, a poll of Democrats in New Hampshire showed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg edging out the president as the favorite for 2024.
But there were some good numbers for the White House. The Senate is very close to passing a few key elements of Biden’s “Build Back Better” program that covers empowering Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, reduces the deficit by over $300 billion, invests the same amount in clean energy to mitigate climate change, and generates investment in manufacturing, especially the vital superconductor industry. And gas prices are down dramatically from an average of $5.01 to $4.34 nationwide.
As for the president’s job approval, a new Rasmussen poll has the president at 45% — the exact percentage that our new John Zogby Strategies Poll taken earlier in the week showed. A bifurcated week for Biden.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey 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
