January 14, 2024

How voters feel about the economy: 4 takeaways from the latest polls

Thinktanker Summary
  • Brookings expert William A. Galston reviews four recent polls of U.S. voters on the economy, comparing Biden and Trump on their economic records.
  • Sixty-five percent of voters rate the economy as good during Trump’s presidency, compared to 38% under Biden.

Overview:

This commentary from Brookings expert William A. Galston reviews four recent polls from U.S. voters on the Biden and Trump economies. Voters remain pessimistic about the economy, despite recent improvements to the U.S. economy. Inflation and high prices are top concerns among voters' assessment of the U.S. economy.

Key Quotes:

  • "President Biden continues to get low marks for his handling of inflation. Overall, only 35% of voters approve of his handling of this issue. Among Hispanics, just 34% approve; for young adults, 28%; among lower-income voters, 29%."
  • "These recent polls are a snapshot, not a forecast. Much can change between now and Election Day, as it has in the past. In 2012, for example, President Obama faced negative economic ratings and low consumer confidence early on. But as the year went on, voters’ sentiments improved, and Obama went on to defeat Mitt Romney in the fall."

This is a brief overview of William Galston's insights on American voters and the 2024 U.S. election. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.

THINK TANK PROFILE

Washington DC
Founded 1916
An influential Washington-based think tank focusing on global security, defense, and economic policy.
Liberal
Leans Right
Create your own think tank.
Get the insights shaping policy and power every week.
Join us on Substack + Linkedin.

Related

Center for Strategic International Studies

President Trump’s latest tariff plan is under fire from a conservative think tank, which says the math behind it is both flawed and misleading.

  • Donald Trump focused on separating himself from his party's extreme policies and addressing key voter concerns like the economy and abortion.

The presidential debate accomplished more for Harris than it did for Trump

Commentary
Leans Left
RAND Corporation

AEI experts explore the potential political impact of President Biden's support for Israel on his electoral prospects in Michigan, particularly among Muslim and Arab American voters.

The shift in Arab American support away from Biden in Michigan is important, but it is unlikely to be the sole deciding factor in Michigan's electoral outcome.

Will Support for Israel Cost Biden Michigan?

Commentary
Conservative
Cato Institute

Cato Institute expert Robert A. Levy writes that U.S. SupremeCourt Chief Justice Roberts will be "concerned about political repercussions" if Trump is disqualified from running.

Levy also argues that liberal justices will likely lean toward allowing voting citizens to decide if Trump should be President.

Trump’s Disqualification: A Primer

Video
Libertarian