According to a CNBC survey, Trump would defeat Biden in a hypothetical matchup. There is also significant support for Israel's funding.

According to a CNBC survey, Trump would defeat Biden in a hypothetical matchup. There is also significant support for Israel's funding.
According to a CNBC survey, Trump would defeat Biden in a hypothetical matchup. There is also significant support for Israel's funding.
  • According to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey, President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to 37%, which is the second lowest rating of his presidency.
  • According to a survey, Biden loses to Trump by 4 percentage points in a head-to-head match up.
  • According to a survey, about three-quarters of the population consider it crucial for the U.S. government to provide military assistance to Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured), as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured), as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023.  (Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters)

A substantial portion of the American public supports Israel over Palestinians following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and believes the government should increase U.S. military funding for Israel. However, a significant number of Americans also want the U.S. to adopt an evenhanded approach in the conflict.

Nearly all-time lows in support for President Joe Biden are found in the CNBC All-America Economic Survey, which also shows him losing to former President Donald Trump by 4 points in a hypothetical head-to-head race.

In August 2014, an NBC News survey found that 53% of the public believed the U.S. should treat both Israelis and Palestinians equally in their conflict, compared with 34% after the 2014 Gaza war. However, 19% of respondents were undecided, up from 9% in 2014, indicating that the situation remains fluid and actions by either side could still sway public opinion.

The majority of the public believes that it is important for the U.S. government to fund military aid to Israel, Ukraine, and securing the border with Mexico, with 74%, 61%, and 72% respectively.

A survey of 1,001 Americans was conducted from Oct. 11 to 15, with a margin of error of +/-3.1%.

Falling Biden support

The combination of negative views on the economy and geopolitical tensions is causing a decline in President Biden's approval rating. Currently, 58% of Americans disapprove of the president, while only 37% approve. This marks the highest disapproval and second-lowest approval rating of Biden's presidency.

Biden's presidency has seen his lowest 32% approval rating on the economy, with a 63% economic disapproval rating being the second lowest.

Despite Biden's prompt support for Israel and additional aid, only 31% of the public approve of his handling of foreign policy, while 60% disapprove.

Biden's issue may stem from within his own party, as only 66% of Democrats support his foreign policy handling and 74% back his economic management, which is lower than his overall 81% approval rating among Democrats.

According to Micah Roberts, partner at Public Opinion Strategies, the Republican pollster for the survey, the president's sub 40 approval ratings are a result of losing large chunks of his base. Roberts referred to the data as "distressing numbers for a president facing reelection."

According to Jay Campbell, partner at Hart Research Associates, the Democratic pollster for the survey, the economic impact on young people, Black people, and Latinos is "very troubling" for Biden. These groups have been hit the hardest economically, and their decreasing regard for the president may be a result of their frustration, Campbell said.

Losing by 4 points to Trump

Despite Biden's poor numbers, Trump's lead in a head-to-head match up is only 4 percentage points, 46-42 with 12% undecided. Pollsters suggest that Trump's lead would be larger if not for reservations about him, but some data in the poll indicates that both independents and undecided voters would break for Trump.

According to the survey, Republicans are more likely to support Israelis over Palestinians, with 57% saying the government should favor Israelis, compared to 29% of Democrats and 27% of independents. On the other hand, 44% of Democrats and 47% of independents believe that the government should treat both sides equally.

In 2014, only 2% of 18- to 34-year-olds said the U.S. government should favor Palestinians, but now that number has increased to 11%. Among 35- to 64-year-olds, support for Israel has grown substantially, with 57% saying the U.S. should favor Israelis in 2014 compared to 63% today.

Younger Democrats are more divided on the question, while older Democrats are more supportive of Israel than Palestinians, according to Campbell.

Republicans and independents prioritize securing the border with Mexico and military funding for Israel, while Democrats prioritize military funding for Ukraine and foreign humanitarian aid.

Click here for the full survey

Biden's 63% economic approval rating is the third highest. An earlier version mischaracterized the figure.

by Steve Liesman

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