With the 2024 election a little over a year away, all eyes are on the direction of the country. While many are focusing in on the current status of Joe Biden approval ratings, I thought it would interesting to see why they make a big deal about poll numbers. We always see, “their polls are up” or “their polls are down.” “You can’t trust their polls” is a big one we always see.
What is Polling?
Candidates use polling to get a current snapshot of the sentiment of potential voters. Using very scientific tools, polling and research companies can focus to find a candidates strengths in a variety of metrics including geographic locations, specific age groups, gender, income, education and more. Polling companies can also test a candidates weaknesses, and sell that data to their competition. For example, if local young candidate A is showing positive poll numbers, but polls weak on experience, you may see incumbent candidate B show up with commercials selling his “successful term in office.” Polls are critical to glean information used during the election cycle for a candidates commercials. Smart polling companies can even glean catch phrases for a candidate to use in commercials as well.
Why IS Polling SO Important?
One of the most important, but least talked about aspect of polling is this: donors. During the election cycle the phrase we get tired of the most? “I’m so in so, and I approve this message.” In each state, BILLIONS are spent on election advertising. I’m not an expert, but I will guess that 99% of advertising money comes from donors. Want proof? Sign up for a candidates email list. Or, join the DNC (Democratic National Committee) or RNC (Republican National Committee) email club. You will bombarded with hundreds of emails each week, maybe each day, asking for money. The systems are sophisticated and targeted. If YOU are who they want, you will get more emails.
Good Polls Vs Bad Polls
Candidates that poll well, will get a boost in donor money. Conversely, bad polling can help donor money dry up fast. Major candidates get DAILY updates on their progress. So if a candidate finds that a certain message isn’t working, they can change it quickly, so not to lose momentum with potential voters.
The Latest Polling
According to Morning Consult:
Using survey data from Morning Consult , a public opinion research company, 24/7 Wall St. determined Biden’s popularity in each state. States were ranked by the share of surveyed voters who approve of Biden.
In this poll, public opinion of Biden varies across the country. In some states he is viewed more positive than others. This list is ranked by Biden’s best scoring states, number being his best.
One thing is clear. The number one issue that American’s are concerned with is the economy.
So now that we’re all expert pollsters, let’s take a look at the Joe Biden approval ratings, by state.
50-West Virginia
American country singer-songwriter John Denver, Bracciano, Italy, 1986. (Photo by Luciano Viti/Getty Images)
Biden approval rating: 25% approve, 73% disapprove
Not that surprising, typically a red leaning state. (That’s John Denver, who sings about West Virginia, in “Take Me Home Country Roads. ” He was not from there.)
49-North Dakota
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Biden approval rating: 25% approve, 71% disapprove
Again, typically leans red.
48-Wyoming
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Biden approval rating: 27% approve, 71% disapprove
Wyoming is typically a Red leaning state
47-Arkansas
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Biden approval rating: 29% approve, 67% disapprove
Typically a red leaning state, even though Bill Clinton was governor.
46-Oklahoma
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Biden approval rating: 30% approve, 67% disapprove
Red leaning state, registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 69.0% (7th lowest of 50 states)
45-Nebraska
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Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 67% disapprove
Red leaning state.
44-Alabama
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Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 66% disapprove
Red leaning state
43-Kentucky
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Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 66% disapprove
Red leaning state, home of the Kentucky Derby
42-Utah
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Biden approval rating: 32% approve, 65% disapprove
Red leaning state
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is the Republican Senator in this state.
41- South Dakota
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Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 65% disapprove
Red leaning state
40-Idaho
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Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 65% disapprove
Red leaning state. Pictured, beautiful downtown Boise, Idaho.
39-Iowa
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Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 64% disapprove
Red leaning state.
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.2% (10th lowest of 50 states)
38-Indiana
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Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 63% disapprove
Red leaning state. VP Mike Pence was the former governor of this state.
37-Tennessee
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Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 63% disapprove
This is red leaning state.
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 66.1% (4th lowest of 50 states)
See this beautiful picture of downtown Memphis!
36-Missouri
(Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 62% disapprove
Red leaning state. Pictured is star Kansas City Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes!
35-Kansas
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Biden approval rating: 35% approve, 62% disapprove
Red leaning state
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.1% (19th highest of 50 states)
34-Mississippi
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Biden approval rating: 35% approve, 61% disapprove
Red leaning state
33-South Carolina
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Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 60% disapprove
Red leaning state, big retirement state.
32-Ohio
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Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 60% disapprove
Red leaning state, also known as a SWING state.
Unemployment, 2022: 4.0% (higher than nat’l avg.)
31-Louisiana
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Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 59% disapprove
Red leaning state
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 71.1% (16th lowest of 50 states)
30-Montana
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Biden approval rating: 38% approve, 59% disapprove
Red leaning state
29-Texas
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Biden approval rating: 38% approve, 58% disapprove
Usually red leaning, and red meat leaning..
28-North Carolina
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Biden approval rating: 39% approve, 58% disapprove
Picture of Lake Norman, North Carolina
Important Swing state
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 75.0% (24th lowest of 50 states)
27-Florida
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Biden approval rating: 39% approve, 57% disapprove
Important Swing state, leans red
Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 77.5% (20th highest of 50 states)
26-Maine
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Biden approval rating: 40% approve, 57% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (53.1% Biden, 44.0% Trump)25-Arizona
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Biden approval rating: 40% approve, 57% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.4% Biden, 49.1% Trump)Swing state
Pictured, beautiful Sedona, Arizona
24-Michigan
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Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 56% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.6% Biden, 47.8% Trump)23-Pennsylvania
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Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 56% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.0% Biden, 48.8% Trump)22-Nevada
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Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 55% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.1% Biden, 47.7% Trump)21-New Hampshire
(Photo by: MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Biden approval rating: 42% approve, 57% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (52.7% Biden, 45.4% Trump)20-Wisconsin
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Biden approval rating: 42% approve, 55% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.4% Biden, 48.8% Trump)Important swing state
Pictured, Lake Geneva
19-Colorado
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Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (55.4% Biden, 41.9% Trump)Pictured, Aspen
18-Minnesota
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Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (52.4% Biden, 45.3% Trump)17-Georgia
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Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.5% Biden, 49.3% Trump)16-Alaska
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Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 52% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Trump (42.8% Biden, 52.8% Trump)Red leaning state.
Of the 25 states where Biden’s approval ratings are highest, Alaska is the only one that went to former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
15-Virginia
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Biden approval rating: 44% approve, 53% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (54.1% Biden, 44.0% Trump)Pictured, Mount Vernon-George Washington House
14-New Mexico
(Photo by Nextrecord Archives / Getty Images).
Biden approval rating: 44% approve, 52% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (54.3% Biden, 43.5% Trump)13-New Jersey
(Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)
Biden approval rating: 45% approve, 51% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (57.3% Biden, 41.4% Trump)12-Oregon
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Biden approval rating: 46% approve, 51% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (56.5% Biden, 40.4% Trump)11-Delaware
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Biden approval rating: 46% approve, 50% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (58.7% Biden, 39.8% Trump)10-Rhode Island
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Biden approval rating: 48% approve, 48% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (59.4% Biden, 38.6% Trump)
9-Connecticut
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Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (59.3% Biden, 39.2% Trump)Pictured, Hartford
8-Washington
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Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (58.0% Biden, 38.8% Trump)7-Illinois
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Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (57.5% Biden, 40.6% Trump)
6-New York
(Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Biden approval rating: 50% approve, 47% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (60.9% Biden, 37.7% Trump)
5-Massachusetts
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Biden approval rating: 50% approve, 46% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (65.6% Biden, 32.1% Trump)One of Biden’s biggest states is Massachusetts.
4-Vermont
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Biden approval rating: 51% approve, 44% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (66.1% Biden, 30.7% Trump)3-Maryland
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Biden approval rating: 52% approve, 44% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (65.4% Biden, 32.2% Trump)2-Hawaii
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Biden approval rating: 53% approve, 44% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (63.7% Biden, 34.3% Trump)1-California
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Biden approval rating: 54% approve, 42% disapprove
2020 presidential election winner: Biden (63.5% Biden, 34.3% Trump)
