Americans' views of Biden dip since 2017, still high: Gallup
Gallup on Thursday said that recent polling shows respondents’ views of former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE have slipped since he left office, but the overall numbers still remain high as he contemplates a 2020 White House bid.
More than half of those surveyed — 56 percent — have a favorable opinion about Biden, the pollsters found. Approximately 8 in 10 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view Biden positively. By comparison, almost 1 in 3 Republicans and Republican leaners view him favorably.
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The former vice president’s popularity peaked at 61 percent in January 2017, Gallup noted.
The polling giant said Biden’s high profile and overall popularity would arguably make him the presumptive front-runner in the 2020 field.
It noted that respondents had similar views of Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I), who officially announced his second presidential candidacy last month. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of Sanders when Gallup last asked about it in September.
Gallup also noted that the unfavorable ratings of five other Democratic contenders — Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (Mass.), Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (Calif.), Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (N.J.), Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (Minn.) and Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (N.Y.) — exceed their favorable rating by between 2 and 8 percentage points in the new poll.
Sources close to Biden, 76, told The Hill earlier this month that the former vice president is almost certain to enter the race.
Last week, he said he was in the “final stages” of decisionmaking.
Gallup surveyed 1,932 adults between Feb. 12-28 for its latest poll. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.