A new NPR/Marist poll is showing dissatisfaction nearly across the board with what the Democrats have done with their majority rule in the federal government, a possible serious warning sign that the G.O.P. could be poised to retake power in next year’s midterm elections.
The main point of contention is inflation – namely that respondents don’t feel the Dems are addressing it with the measures they’ve passed so far under President Joe Biden.
The results of the poll could point to a mountain of work ahead of Democrats as they begin their sales pitch for Biden’s Build Back Better legislation, a bill that has lukewarm support across the country – just 41% – according to the poll.
The silver lining is that a full quarter of those polled – 25% – responded “unsure,” as opposed to the 34% who opposed the bill outright.
It’s a signal that the Dems could still sway a big chunk of Americans in their favor, but they must do a better job of explaining how the bill can positively impact the average U.S. citizen.
“They [Democrats] don't have a unified message for what they're doing, and that does not bode well for the party,” said Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist Poll.
A majority of respondents – 56% – did support the infrastructure bill that has already been passed and signed into law with 69% saying they are optimistic that the measure will bring improvements for roads and bridges in desperate need of some TLC. But only 53% thought it will aid in quality job creation, and just 34% believe it will aid in lowering inflation.
The slew of stimulus checks that were sent out this year were the most popular decisions the federal government made. An overwhelming 80% of those who received the government’s $1,400 stimulus checks sent in the beginning of 2021 helped either “a little” (53%) or “a lot” (27%).
As for the $300 monthly child tax-credits that were sent to American parents beginning mid-year, 17% of the poll’s respondents said they received the stimulus. That number includes 59% of all parents with kids under 18.
Of those who received the checks, 79% said the money helped either “a little” (64%) or “a lot” (15%).
The larger issue for Biden is that Americans don’t seem to be giving him credit for the moves that met with approval. 40% of respondents credited Congressional Democrats most of all for the stimulus checks, while 17% credited Congressional Republicans, despite not a single member of the G.O.P.
voting in favor of the relief bill in March.
Meanwhile, the same percentage – 17% – credited Biden.
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