WATCH: Biden Lashes Out At Reporter For Asking About Low Poll Numbers

President Joe Biden responded with marked irritation on Tuesday to a reporter’s question regarding his sagging poll numbers, an issue that has become a sore point amid concerns within the Democratic Party about its prospects in upcoming elections.

“What’s your message to Democrats who are concerned about your poll numbers?” the reporter asked.

“My poll numbers are as high as you guys are in the polls. I’m winning. Five. Five in a row. I’m winning. Five. Five in a row,” Biden said. He then chided the press for their narrow focus on certain media outlets, specifically calling out the New York Times, albeit acknowledging its stature as a “great paper.”

WATCH:

The moment of contention highlighted the growing tension between the White House and the press corps, as well as the internal anxieties percolating within the Democratic Party about its leadership and direction. Biden’s attempt to deflect criticism by pointing to selective victories showcases a strategic, albeit contentious, approach to handling negative press coverage and internal party dissent.

The tactic, however, does not fully assuage the concerns of some Democratic Party members who are anxious about the potential impact of Biden’s poll numbers on their electoral fortunes.

On Monday The New York Times published an article preluding a unique electoral scenario not seen since Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft in 1912, where voters have the chance to compare the records of two former presidents, Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden.

According to recent polls conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, a significant portion of Americans holds more positive views of Trump’s policies compared to Biden’s. About 40 percent of voters believe Trump’s policies benefited them personally, while only 18 percent say the same for Biden’s policies. Conversely, 43 percent of voters feel Biden’s policies have adversely affected them, almost double the share of voters who feel negatively impacted by Trump’s policies.

This sentiment is reflective of a broader trend where former presidents are often viewed more favorably after leaving office. For instance, retrospective approval ratings for nine out of the past eleven presidents, including Trump, have increased by an average of 12 percentage points post-presidency.

The New York Times wrote:

Views of the economy are deeply intertwined with views of the candidates’ policies. And while Republicans almost universally view the economy as bad, Democrats are more evenly split. Of the voters who said the economy was in excellent or good shape, large shares also said they had felt positive impacts of Mr. Biden’s policies. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who think the economy is fair or poor are more likely to say Mr. Biden’s policies have hurt them or haven’t made much of a difference.

Another of Mr. Trump’s early signature policies, his plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, was opposed by two-thirds of Hispanic voters, according to exit polls taken during the 2016 election. It was part of a suite of policies, including a ban on travel from several predominantly Muslim countries, that helped fuel large turnout by Democratic voters and sweeping victories for Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterms.

The Times/Siena polls show that Trump’s policies’ comparative popularity, even among demographics impacted by policies traditionally championed by Democrats. A pivotal factor in the public’s preference seems to be the economy, suggesting that economic considerations are paramount for many voters as they reflect on the effectiveness of presidential policies.

With an eye on the upcoming election cycle, the effectiveness of Biden’s communication strategy and his ability to address the concerns underlying the polling data will be critical factors in shaping November 2024.