OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
A recent CNN poll shows former President Donald Trump with his largest lead ever over incumbent President Joe Biden.
When matched head-to-head, Trump led Biden 49% to 43%, and with third party candidates included Trump’s lead grew to 42% versus Biden’s 33%.
“In the coming rematch, opinions about the first term of each man vying for a second four years in the White House now appear to work in Trump’s favor, with most Americans saying that, looking back, Trump’s term as president was a success, while a broad majority says Biden’s has so far been a failure,” CNN’s Jennifer Agiesta wrote.
Most Americans viewed Trump’s presidency positively and as a success compared to viewing Biden’s presidency so far as negative and a failure.
Biden had particularly low approval ratings on economic issues like inflation and the economy, seen as extremely important issues to voters.
“Looking back, 55% of all Americans now say they see Trump’s presidency as a success, while 44% see it as a failure. In a January 2021 poll taken just before Trump left office and days after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, 55% considered his time as president a failure,” Agiesta wrote. “Assessing Biden’s time in office so far, 61% say his presidency thus far has been a failure, while 39% say it’s been a success. That’s narrowly worse than the 57% who called the first year of his administration a failure in January 2022, with 41% calling it a success.”
“In the new poll, 65% of registered voters call the economy extremely important to their vote for president, compared with 40% who felt that way in early 2020 and 46% who said the same at roughly this point in 2016,” Agiesta wrote. “Those voters who say the economy is deeply important break heavily for Trump in a matchup against Biden, 62% to 30%.”
The poll indicates Trump is well positioned for a potential rematch with Biden in the next presidential election.
