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A recent Harvard Harris Poll has stirred discussions around President Joe Biden’s mental fitness for office, with implications for the 2024 Presidential Election.
The poll conducted in late July indicates that only 32% of those surveyed believe Biden is mentally fit for the presidency, while 68% have reservations about his cognitive abilities.
Though the majority of Democratic voters still prefer Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris is the favored candidate should Biden choose not to run.
With Biden in contention, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. garners 16% support. If Biden opts out, Harris emerges as a clear frontrunner with 44% support, significantly ahead of RFK’s 22%.
While Biden’s approval rating is around 40%, concerns regarding his mental fitness might influence undecided voters.
For the Democrats to ensure a potential second term for Biden, they must actively address these apprehensions.
On the Republican front, former President Donald Trump continues to be a dominant figure, leading the pack of GOP candidates.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was previously seen as the primary challenger to Trump, seems to be losing traction.
Recent data from Florida Politics highlights DeSantis’s declining position among GOP Presidential Primary voters, falling behind both Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy.
From the Harvard poll, 54% of Republican respondents believe Trump will secure the nomination.
If Trump does not, DeSantis is expected to lead with 29% support, followed by Ramaswamy at 19% and former Vice President Mike Pence at 13%.
In theoretical matchups, Trump holds a five-point advantage over Biden and a nine-point lead over Harris. Interestingly, DeSantis is on par with both Biden and Harris according to the survey.
Public sentiment suggests reservations about both Biden and Trump seeking second terms.
Six out of ten respondents feel Biden should not run again, with a similar proportion expressing the same sentiment about Trump.
An NBC News national survey in June mirrored these findings. 68% of registered voters expressed concerns about Biden’s mental and physical fitness, a notable rise from October 2020.
Meanwhile, an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found 62% of Americans questioned Biden’s cognitive ability to serve beyond his current term, even as his approval rating witnessed a slight bump to 45%.