In a recent interview on “60 Minutes,” Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden faced questions about their declining popularity, particularly among younger Americans. Bill Whitaker, the interviewer, brought up a CBS poll showing a significant drop in approval among people under 30 since the start of the Biden administration.
However, Harris’ response did not directly address the question. She mentioned that issues like climate change and student loan debt were top concerns among young people and highlighted the administration’s efforts in these areas. But she failed to explain why the approval ratings for the President and herself remained low, despite these issues being a focus of their agenda.
It’s worth noting that Biden has been struggling with younger voters for some time, and this decline occurred within the first year of his presidency. According to a CBS News/YouGov September poll, only 40 percent of adults approved of President Biden’s performance, while Vice President Harris received a similar 41 percent approval rating.
The same poll revealed diminishing enthusiasm for Harris as Biden’s running mate. In August 2020, 58 percent of respondents were enthusiastic about her selection, but that number dropped to just 30 percent at the time of the interview. Furthermore, 48 percent of Democrats admitted to knowing “not much/nothing at all” about Harris’ work as vice president.
This is not the first time Harris has been confronted with her unpopularity. In an interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis in August, she faced questions about her low approval ratings, which were highlighted by a June poll from NBC News, showing a 49 percent negative view and only a 32 percent positive view. Harris claimed that there were polls with higher approval ratings, but no such polls were cited.
Another concerning aspect discussed in the “60 Minutes” interview was the speculation surrounding President Biden’s potential candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Given his age, concerns have arisen among fellow Democrats about whether he will seek a second term. A CBS News poll found that only 34 percent of respondents believed Biden would finish a second term.
Whitaker raised the issue of donors expressing reluctance to support Harris as the nominee if Biden decides not to run again. Harris, however, avoided giving a clear response and emphasized her focus on her current responsibilities, reiterating her support for Biden’s reelection.
In the face of declining approval ratings and questions about the future, both Harris and Biden must address the concerns of the American people and work to regain their support.