Staff Reports
In the latest Harvard Youth Poll, it has been revealed that President Biden is facing challenges in gaining the same level of support from young voters as he did during his initial election. The poll indicates that among 18 to 29-year-olds, the 81-year-old Democrat currently holds a 45% to 37% lead over former President Donald Trump, with 16% undecided. This shows a notable drop from the same point in the 2020 race when Mr. Biden had a 51% to 28% lead among the same subset of voters.
This is seen as a concerning sign for President Biden as he seeks to rebuild the winning coalition he had in 2020, which heavily relied on strong support from minority, young, and female voters. The poll also reflects Mr. Biden’s approval rating being lower with young voters, who are notably pessimistic about the direction of the nation, with only 9% believing that the country is heading in the right direction.
Biden comes up short with young voters https://t.co/d1AqsneH59
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 18, 2024
Furthermore, the poll highlights that President Biden has not been able to close the enthusiasm gap with Mr. Trump, as 76% of Trump’s supporters are more enthusiastic compared to 44% of Biden’s backers. Additionally, when third-party contenders Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West are included in the poll, Mr. Biden’s lead among young voters decreases, with him receiving 28% of the vote, followed by Mr. Trump at 25%, Mr. Kennedy at 11%, Ms. Stein at 4%, and Mr. West at 3%, with the remaining voters undecided.
The findings of the Harvard Youth Poll indicate that President Biden is facing challenges in regaining the level of support he previously had among young voters. This could have significant implications for his reelection campaign and underscores the need for him to address the concerns and priorities of this demographic.
