As the 2024 presidential debate approached, both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced a range of challenges. A recent CBS/YouGov national survey revealed that many registered voters harbored doubts about Biden’s mental and cognitive health, particularly 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 had grown by seven percentage points since June.
Similarly, a significant number of voters questioned Trump’s mental and cognitive capacity to handle the demands of the presidency. While concerns about Biden’s age and health had been circulating for some time, his faltering responses during the debate amplified these worries. These survey results may prompt more calls for Biden, who is 81 years old, to step down from the presidential race and allow another Democratic nominee to take up the mantle.
Despite these doubts, Biden has stated unequivocally that he has no plans to withdraw from the 2024 race. Key Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and John Fetterman have shown their support for him and dismissed any speculation about him stepping aside. However, survey results indicate that everyday Democratic voters are increasingly leaning towards Biden not running for president again. Concerns about his age, decision-making abilities while in office, and campaigning skills were cited as reasons for wanting him to step aside.
The CBS/YouGov poll was conducted among 1,130 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points. Ultimately, these survey findings highlight how divided opinions within the Democratic Party are regarding Biden’s candidacy for the upcoming presidential election.