In the 2024 presidential race, both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced different challenges. A recent CBS/YouGov national survey showed that many registered voters were unsure about Biden’s mental and cognitive health, especially after his performance in the debate. Seventy-two percent of voters, including half of his own party, expressed concerns about his ability to serve as president for another term. This skepticism has increased by seven percentage points since June.
Similarly, a significant number of voters, 49%, also doubted Trump’s mental and cognitive capacity to handle the responsibilities of the presidency. While questions about Biden’s age and health have been circulating for some time, his faltering responses and overall performance in the recent debate have amplified these concerns. These survey results may lead to more calls for Biden, who is 81 years old, to step down from the presidential race and allow another Democratic nominee to take his place.
However, despite these doubts, Biden has made it clear that he has no intentions of withdrawing from the 2024 race. Key Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and John Fetterman have shown support for Biden and dismissed the idea of him stepping aside. Yet, according to the survey results, everyday Democratic voters are increasingly in favor of Biden not running for president again. Concerns about his age, decision-making abilities in office, and campaigning skills were cited as reasons for wanting Biden to step aside.
The CBS/YouGov poll was conducted among 1130 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points. Ultimately, these survey results highlight the contrasting opinions within the Democratic Party regarding Biden’s candidacy for the upcoming presidential election.
In conclusion, while both candidates face various issues in their respective campaigns, voter doubts about their mental and cognitive health are becoming more prevalent across party lines. The survey results suggest that there is a growing divide within the Democratic Party on whether or not President Joe Biden should run for president again in 2024 due to concerns over his age and competency.