Biden Starts Year Two With Diminished Public Support and a Daunting List of Challenges
Americans’ views of the economy remain negative; most say prices have gotten worse while job availability has improved.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Americans’ views of the economy remain negative; most say prices have gotten worse while job availability has improved.
Americans show more support than opposition for two infrastructure bills; majorities favor raising taxes on large businesses and high-income households.
The share of adults who are “basically content” with the federal government has risen to the highest point since 2004, driven by Democrats.
Also, a declining share of Republicans say the coronavirus is a major threat to health in the United States.
Six-in-ten say the primary reason the number of confirmed coronavirus cases is increasing is that there are more new infections; 39% say cases are rising mainly because more people are being tested than in previous months.
A large majority of Americans say additional COVID-19 aid is needed – and want Congress to pass it as soon as possible.
Among Republicans, support has declined for allowing early or absentee voting without an excuse and for automatically registering all eligible citizens to vote.
Comparable majorities of both candidates’ supporters say it “really matters” who wins in November, with large majorities on both sides saying a win by the opposing candidate would lead to “lasting harm” for the country.
A majority of Republicans now say that when thinking about the problems facing the country from the coronavirus, “the worst is behind us.” Just 23% of Democrats say the same.
With less than five months until the 2020 elections, Americans are deeply unhappy with the state of the nation.
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