Voters think Trump is a criminal, Biden is too old and DeSantis is a fascist, new poll finds

[Eric]

And here we are.

A new poll out from JL Partners underscores major weaknesses for the three men most likely to be sworn in as president on 20 January 2025, with little good news to soften the blow.

With the GOP primary now in full swing, Americans are getting a good look at the alternatives the Republican Party will present to the re-election of President Joe Biden, who was already the oldest president ever to take office when he did so in 2021.

But the top contenders in the GOP, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, each have debilitating labels to overcome if they have any shot of picking up ground with a general election audience, according to the survey. For Mr Trump, voters were most likely to describe him in one word as a “criminal”; others were even less flattering, such as “disgusting”, “liar”, “evil” and “dangerous” (though “patriot” also made a top-10 appearance).

 

[GermanSuplex]

Those are three reasonable takes. Biden’s age is the least pressing of the matters. In a perfect world, the other two would be written off and a younger Biden successor would sweep the general election, but a perfect world this is not. All the GOP candidates are too radical or too weak and ineffective. And of the few people who may stand up to Trump - like Pence or Asa Hutchinson, they were complicit by propping Trump up all this time, and still being weak in their criticism.

 

[dada_dave]

To be fair Biden has been way more effective than I thought he’d be given his age, his demeanor, and the political and economic circumstances when he became president. But he is old and especially in a second term that does worry me for a number of different reasons - obviously not to the point where any of the current other options become anything close to reasonable, but simply taken in isolation.

 

[Citysnaps]

trump... the gift that keeps on giving. And what's really bad, inspiring. For half of the population in the US, that's not just A-OK, but worshipped. Nothing could be worse than 1930s Germany, but with all the trump adoration it sure feels like I'm living in a dream world, wondering how close it could get.

 

[Riyan17]

This headline encapsulates the turbulent landscape of public opinion, reflecting widespread disillusionment with key political figures. The characterization of Trump as a criminal, Biden as aged, and DeSantis as fascist underscores the polarization and skepticism gripping the electorate. Such sentiments underscore the urgent need for transparent, accountable leadership and highlight the challenges facing American democracy in an era defined by deep-seated divisions and distrust.