Biden's "Big Mac" Woes
The wind is not in President Joe Biden's favor as we inch closer to the polls in just less than a year. His situation isn't looking pretty, and it's hard to miss seeing the signs, even in something as innocent as a burger.
American culture cherishes the Big Mac, introduced by McDonald's way back in 1967. It's more than just a burger; it's a national icon and a form of currency. The Big Mac Index, often published by British magazine "Economist," monitors the burger's cost and serves as an indicator of a country's inflation rate. When Biden took office in January 2020, a Big Mac cost an average of $4.82 in the U.S. Fast forward to June 2023, the price has risen to $5.58, marking a nearly 10% increase.
While this might seem trivial, it's alarming for the Biden camp. Rising inflation has already caused widespread doubt about Biden's administration among many Americans. The growing sentiment is that with Biden at the helm, everything seems to have become pricier – Big Macs, housing, gasoline. The administration's record of creating 13.9 million new jobs before October 2023 doesn't help improve the picture.
The specter of inflation has caused real wages to drop by approximately 1% under Biden, while they rose by 3% under his former Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. When comparing Biden's real wage figures to former US presidents like Jimmy Carter and George Bush, experts have reasons to worry. They both left office after serving for only four years.
Biden's approvals tank among the youth
A wave of bad omens is looming over Biden's campaign. Despite the media's claim that pre-election polls are often meaningless, events transpiring since then have left the Democrats tossing and turning in their sleep.
The situation has become particularly unsettling for Biden when it comes to younger Americans' approval. Following the brutal attacks on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, many young Americans have taken to the streets, passionately backing the Palestinians. Simultaneously, they voice their disapproval of President Biden's support for Israel. Signs like "We'll remember in November" and "You lost my vote, Genocide Joe" have become common features at anti-Biden protests.
The impact on young voters
A survey conducted by Quinnipiac University revealed that a staggering 74% of Democratic voters under 35 side with the Palestinians, while only 16% are in favor of Israel. Young Democratic voters also believe that Biden's stance on Israel is inappropriate by a margin of 69%.
To put things into perspective, Biden led Trump by more than 20% among young voters under 35 in 2020. However, this gap has been significantly narrowed to barely ten percentage points according to the latest poll stats from Quinnipiac.
Biden's waning support among the Muslim community
Having the support of the Muslim community in the U.S. has become integral for a presidential candidate's success. However, recent developments have revealed Biden's potential loss of this critical voting bloc.
In an analysis, US columnist Shadi Hamid mentioned that during the Thanksgiving holiday, four of his Arab relatives and friends told him they would not vote for Biden in the 2024 presidential election. This dissatisfaction has been largely driven by Biden's policies vis-à-vis Israel, which many in the Muslim community view as unfavorable to Palestinians.
Trump's electability factor
Trump was able to garner substantial support due to presenting a credible alternative in 2020. His campaign slogan, "electability," echoed throughout the country. Whether it is a matter of Israel or hamburgers, Biden simply does not seem electable in the eyes of many Americans currently.
