A majority of Americans say they’re pessimistic about the country’s direction, according to a new poll from ABC News/Ipsos.
Compared to May, when 64% of respondents said they felt positive about where the country is headed, 55% now describe themselves as pessimistic — a 20-percentage-point reversal as the country faces continued COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amid an outbreak of the highly contagious delta variant.
About two-thirds of Americans still support President Joe Biden’s efforts to combat the pandemic, but majorities disapprove of his performance on gun violence, immigration and crime, the poll showed.
The poll showed widening pessimism across the board regardless of age, income, education or political party.
Republicans remain steadfast in their disapproval of Biden’s performance (83%), while Democrats have seen their overall optimism about the country dip to 71% from April’s 89%.
The poll comes as Democrats and Republicans haggle over a Biden-initiated infrastructure deal and as a House select committee begins its investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by a pro-Trump mob. Recent polling shows majorities of Republicans and former President Donald Trump’s voters say they believe false election claims just as multiple GOP state legislatures move forward with restrictive voting measures.
Biden’s overall approval rating has dipped six percentage points to 50%, his lowest mark since taking office in January, according to the latest Gallup poll.
Biden’s reduced rating comes as the delta variant spreads and increases cases among unvaccinated Americans, and amid continued polarization, according to Gallup.
For the first time, support for Biden among independents dipped below a majority to 48%, and Democratic support at 90% marks a new low as well.
Biden’s overall performance during his term’s first second quarter — an average of 53% — is still better than former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton during the same time period.
©2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Those of us who realized what was coming down the pike aren’t surprised at all. Those of you who voted for the Media Whisperer—you got what you asked for. If you are wanting us to thank you, that will not be forthcoming.
I am shocked 2/3rds of folk STILL ARE PROUD OF biden’s Covid response.. WHAT RESPONSE.. THE VACCINES CAME FROM TRUMP!
Knowing all the scary things the Democrats promised once they seized power, I mean elected to office, it certainly was no surprise to witness them doing it, only the speed with which they drove the country downward. It’s impossible to be optomistic about anything that will happen while they remain in power. Optimism is being reserved for the moment when they are shunted aside in the upcoming elections, this year at the local level and in 2022 for the national races for House and Senate.
I am shocked they’ve already NOT TRIED TO get rid of the 2nd amendment..
pessimistic is a joke! americans better wake the hell up our country is disapearing right before our eyes
and folks are pessimistic? dam sad this is.
I agree. There is a very old phrase..
An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure
HAD WE conservatives, NOT STAYED the ‘sleeping bear’ for so bloody long, we wouldn’t be a hairs breadth away from losing our nation.!!
These “polls” remind me of the time back in the 70’s where the Navy switched from the cracker-jack sailor suit uniforms to a suit and tie type array. (That we squids had to pay for) Seems a poll was taken back then too and the contrary results were hidden from the fleet as the die was cast and some politician already made a sweet heart deal with a clothing defense contractor.