A recent CBS News/YouGov poll has revealed a significant decline in voters’ confidence in President Joe Biden’s cognitive ability to serve as president. The poll, conducted after the presidential debate, found that 72% of respondents do not believe Biden has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, a 7-point increase from the 65% who felt this way before the debate.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump also received mixed reviews from voters, with 49% saying he does not have the mental capability to be president again. When asked if Biden should continue running for president, a majority of voters, 72%, believed he should not, an increase from the 63% who felt this way in February.
Among Democratic voters, the percentage of those who believed Biden should not run dropped to 46%, but still represented a significant increase from the 36% who felt this way in February. The poll also highlighted concerns about Biden’s age, decisions, record, and ability to campaign effectively as major reasons why he should not run.
On the other hand, a majority of Republican voters believed Trump should continue running, citing his ability to clearly explain his ideas, seem more presidential, and inspire confidence.
The debate also had a notable impact on voters’ perceptions of the candidates’ honesty, with 40% saying Biden told the truth, compared to 32% who believed Trump did. Finally, the debate brought the presidential race more to the forefront of voters’ minds, with 59% saying they are now thinking a lot about the election, up from 48% before the debate.
