Just hours away from the historic debate between current U.S. President Joe Biden and his rival Donald Trump, set to take place at CNN studios in Manhattan tomorrow evening, many American voters and the world are anticipating the fierce confrontation between the Democratic and Republican candidates. Both candidates appear to face significant weaknesses.
Polling by CBS News in collaboration with YouGov this month highlights the primary challenges each contender faces.
**Age and Mental Acuity**
At 81 years old, Biden faces numerous concerns about his age and mental sharpness, even though he is only three years older than Trump. Voters expressed concerns about the current president's age ten times more than they did about Trump’s. When asked if age was a factor in their voting decisions, 25% of registered voters responded affirmatively regarding Biden, while only 2% said the same about Trump. However, 43% considered age unimportant for either candidate. When asked who possesses sufficient mental and cognitive health to hold the presidency, 27% of respondents believed only Biden fits that description, compared to 42% for Trump. Despite this, the upcoming 90-minute debate could dramatically shift perceptions, especially for Biden, if he knows how to effectively engage.
**Impulsive Behavior**
The situation is not secure for Trump either, despite the prior figures. After a decade fraught with controversy over his stances, beliefs, and sometimes bizarre and incendiary statements, this appears to have influenced voters' perceptions and evaluations of his often described impulsive behavior. The previously mentioned CBS News/YouGov poll conducted in early June recorded that 67% of voters dislike Trump's approach, compared to 51% who said the same about Biden. Among independents, these figures jump to 74% for Trump and 55% for Biden.
**The Major Surprise**
Perhaps the biggest surprise arose when respondents were asked why they support Biden. It was revealed that 33% did so out of admiration for the current president and his positions, while 48% claimed their support stemmed from opposition to Trump. Among independents who supported Biden, 21% cited admiration as the reason, compared to 67% whose support was solely based on their anti-Trump stance.
Additionally, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that American voters view Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, as the better choice for the economy, but they prefer his Democratic rival’s approach to preserving democracy in the country.
