Independent US voters are deserting Biden: Polls

US President Joe Biden has lost support among independent voters that helped catapult him to the White House, according to recent surveys.

The polls have shown Biden’s numbers falling drastically with the key demographic: independents.

The current gridlock on Capitol Hill coupled with the humiliating US retreat from Afghanistan and his handling of the ongoing migrant crisis at the Mexican border has contributed to the decrease in support from independent and more moderate voters. 

A recent Gallup poll found Biden’s approval rating among independents falling to 37 percent, the lowest it has been since Biden sworn in as president on January 20.

And an Associated Press poll released on Friday found the US president’s approval rating among independents had fallen from 62 percent in July to 38 percent in September.

Political analysts link the bad numbers to a lack of results with his legislative agenda, which is stuck in Congress.

“Independents are seeing… a significant lack of results and a lot of consternation on Capitol Hill,” said Democratic strategist Mike Morey, a former aide to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). “They just want things to get done and be well. I think if you look at the numbers around Afghanistan, they didn't see the withdrawal as neat and they don't see what's happening on Capitol Hill as neat.”

‘Independents have no loyalty to either party’

American political analyst and activist Myles Hoenig said, “It’s no surprise that Independents are withdrawing their support for Biden. Much is happening that they, as a voting bloc, do not like to see happening. The biggest concern of theirs is the deadlock in the Congress and Biden’s inability or reluctance to put any real pressure on his opposition. So many Independents vote for either party, depending on the issue, and not beholden to just one of them.”

“Independents like to see movement in Congress and this recent deadlock shows the impotence of Biden and especially, the party he represents. Republicans may be the ones actively opposing any progress, as they vowed to do, and did successfully with Obama, but the Democrats also live in their own sort of disarray. It is easy for a single, or couple of senators, to hold up movement on legislation. For the Democrats, they have the two senators from West Virginia and Arizona, who are far more aligned with the Republican agenda and the Democratic leadership has no stick to hold over them,” he commented to Press TV on Saturday.

“The issue of the loss of Afghanistan is only a blip on the radar for Biden. Like the fall of Saigon, it will have minimal impact on the next elections. Gerald Ford didn’t lose the White House in 1974 because of losing the war in Vietnam but for his pardon of Nixon and compounded by his gaffe during the debate in which he said there is no domination of Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union. He did bounce back after that, though. The American people were tired of the war, and like Afghanistan for Biden, just leaving it, even with his tail between his legs, was not enough to move away from the accidental president,” he added.

“Independents deserting Biden is temporary, a snapshot, as Matt Bennett calls it. If there is movement and his party is seen taking the lead, his fortunes will change for the better. He is getting high marks for his Covid response but Biden would need to be more out front in accusing the Republicans of promoting non-vaccinations and furthering the spread. But they have never called it the Trump Pandemic and playing hardball is not the Democratic Party’s way, unless it’s against their more progressive members. They are too incompetent to use what political muscles they have,” he concluded.

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