Tim Malloy, Polling Analyst (203) 645-8043 Doug Schwartz, Associate Vice President and Director (203) 582-5294 FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 3, 2021 61% OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEXT FOUR YEARS WITH BIDEN IN OFFICE, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS; 68% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE $1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS RELIEF BILL Two weeks into the presidency of Joe Biden, a majority of Americans say, 61 – 34 percent, that they are generally optimistic about the next four years with Biden as president, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea- ack) University national poll of 1,075 adults released today. However, there are sharp divisions by party identification. Democrats say 90 – 7 percent and independents say 62 – 35 percent that they are optimistic. Republicans say 65 – 27 percent that they are pessimistic. Despite an overall majority being optimistic, 69 percent of Americans say they are either very dissatisfied (46 percent) or somewhat dissatisfied (23 percent) with the way things are going in the nation today. Twenty-nine percent say they are very satisfied (6 percent) or somewhat satisfied (23 percent) with the way things are going in the nation today. A majority (56 – 35 percent) say Biden is doing more to unite the country than to divide it. “Amid a palpable uncertainty about the months and even years ahead, there is a sense that President Biden is the man for the moment. And that moment can’t come too soon,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy. U.S. ISSUES: CRISIS VS. PROBLEM? Americans were asked about several issues the United States is confronting right now and whether they think these issues are a crisis, a problem but not a crisis, or not a problem at all. Of the six issues, the coronavirus pandemic is the only one with a clear majority considering it a crisis. • Coronavirus Pandemic: 68 percent say crisis, 25 percent problem but not a crisis, 6 percent not a problem at all; • The State of Nation’s Economy: 45 percent say crisis, 46 percent problem but not a crisis, 7 percent not a problem at all; • The State of Nation’s Democracy: 45 percent say crisis, 43 percent problem but not a crisis, 9 percent not a problem at all; • Climate Change: 43 percent say crisis, 33 percent problem but not a crisis, 21 percent not a problem at all; • Racial Inequality: 41 percent say crisis, 42 percent problem but not a crisis, 14 percent not a problem at all; • People Believing in Conspiracy Theories: 34 percent say crisis, 41 percent problem but not a crisis, 21 percent not a problem at all. BIDEN: JOB APPROVAL President Biden receives a positive job approval rating with Americans approving 49 – 36 percent of the way he’s handling his job. Sixteen percent didn’t offer an opinion. “The Biden numbers are solid but not spectacular as the country tries to coalesce around a new administration that faces the dual challenge of daunting economic struggles and comforting a COVID-weary public,” said Malloy. On his handling of the response to the coronavirus, Americans approve 61 – 29 percent. As for Biden’s personal traits, Americans say: • 60 – 36 percent that he cares about average Americans; • 58 – 36 percent that he is level headed; • 54 – 39 percent that he has good leadership skills; • 53 – 39 percent that he is honest. FAVORABILITY RATINGS The President, Vice President and First Lady all receive positive favorability ratings. • Joe Biden: 53 percent favorable, 38 percent unfavorable; • Kamala Harris: 45 percent favorable, 35 percent unfavorable, 18 percent haven’t heard enough; • Jill Biden: 44 percent favorable, 18 percent unfavorable, 35 percent haven’t heard enough. CONGRESS: JOB APPROVAL RATINGS • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: 37 percent approve, 42 percent disapprove, 20 percent didn’t offer an opinion; • Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: 21 percent approve, 67 percent disapprove, 12 percent didn’t offer an opinion; • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: 45 percent approve, 47 percent disapprove, 8 percent didn’t offer an opinion; • House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy: 27 percent approve, 45 percent disapprove, 28 percent didn’t offer an opinion; • Democrats in Congress: 44 percent approve, 46 percent disapprove, 10 percent didn’t offer an opinion; • Republicans in Congress: 26 percent approve, 64 percent disapprove, 10 percent didn’t offer an opinion. Americans are evenly split on the direction the Democratic Party is moving in with 46 percent saying it is moving in the right direction and 46 percent saying it is moving in the wrong direction. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) say the Republican Party is moving in the wrong direction and 25 percent say it is moving in the right direction. “Stung mightily by election losses, wracked by internal disputes, stained by a deadly insurrection and left wondering who is really running the show, the Grand Old Party is a grand old mess in the minds of the vast majority of Americans,” said Malloy. BIDEN ON THE ISSUES Nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the Biden administration’s proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus relief bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic, as 68 percent say they support it and 24 percent oppose it. Democrats support it 97 – 3 percent, independents support it 68 – 25 percent and Republicans are opposed 47 – 37 percent, with 16 percent not offering an opinion. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans are in favor of $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with 78 percent supporting and 18 percent opposing. A majority also say 61 – 36 percent that they support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. “Struggling to pay the bills, American households need an infusion of cash and need it now. So give it to them, is the resounding judgement of the public,” added Malloy. Paris Agreement: Americans say 63 – 33 percent they support the Biden administration re-joining the Paris Agreement, a pact reached among countries around the globe to limit climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mexico Border: Americans say 54 – 42 percent that they approve of President Biden’s action to halt the construction of a wall along the border with Mexico. Immigration: On Biden’s proposal to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, Americans overwhelming support 83 – 12 percent allowing undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the United States and eventually apply for citizenship. Overall, sixty-five percent of Americans say undocumented immigrants who are currently living in the United States should be allowed to stay in the United States and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. Nine percent say they should stay in the U.S. but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. Twenty percent say they should be required to leave the United States. Travel Ban/Muslim Countries: Americans say they approve 57 – 36 percent of Biden’s action to reverse a travel ban on predominately Muslim countries that was put into effect in 2017. 1,075 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from January 28th – February 1st with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll Email [email protected], or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president? ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 49% 11% 89% 44% 38% 58% 59% 33% Disapprove 36 76 3 36 45 27 32 52 DK/NA 16 13 8 20 17 15 9 15 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Approve 44% 49% 50% 55% 29% 55% 42% 60% Disapprove 32 34 41 37 55 35 45 22 DK/NA 24 17 9 8 15 10 13 18 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove? ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve strongly 37% 6% 77% 30% 26% 47% 50% 24% Approve smwht 11 6 11 13 12 9 8 8 Disapprove smwht 5 7 - 8 5 4 3 7 Disapprove strongly 31 69 3 28 40 23 29 45 DK/NA 17 13 9 21 17 16 10 16 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Approve strongly 21% 39% 42% 50% 21% 45% 33% 43% Approve smwht 21 9 8 5 8 9 8 15 Disapprove smwht 7 6 3 2 5 6 6 3 Disapprove strongly 25 27 38 35 49 29 39 19 DK/NA 26 19 10 8 16 11 14 20 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? ADULTS................................................. WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 26% 50% 11% 24% 26% 25% 15% 33% Disapprove 64 37 84 65 63 64 80 58 DK/NA 10 13 5 12 10 10 5 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht NonWht Approve 33% 20% 26% 23% 28% 24% 26% 26% Disapprove 54 70 69 70 63 69 66 63 DK/NA 13 11 5 7 9 7 8 11 3.