In the online version of From the Politics Desk, the NBC News Politics team provides reporting and analysis on the campaign trail, the White House, and Capitol Hill. Recent developments include House Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy facing primary challenges, with Rep. Matt Gaetz being the latest to draw a challenger. A former Navy aviator, Aaron Dimmock, filed to run against Gaetz, with the campaign already heating up.
Of the eight House Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy, six are seeking re-election, with four facing primary challengers including Reps. Nancy Mace, Bob Good, Eli Crane, and Gaetz. The Republican establishment is gearing up for a fight over the direction of the party, with both centrist and hard-right lawmakers facing intraparty opposition. Gaetz himself has backed challengers against his GOP colleagues, indicating a split within the party.
Recent polls on the 2024 election show a competitive race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Despite the varying results in different surveys, voters consistently have a more positive view of Trump’s presidency than they do of Biden’s. With nearly six months until Election Day, the polls suggest that Biden’s re-election campaign should be concerned about the public perception of his presidency compared to Trump’s.
The recent CNN poll showed that 55% of Americans view Trump’s presidency as a success, while only 39% say the same about Biden’s presidency. Additionally, 61% see Biden’s presidency as a failure, compared to 44% for Trump. Even battleground state polling shows a close race between the two candidates, with voters having more favorable memories of Trump’s time in office.
Despite the positive aspects of Biden’s presidency, such as low unemployment and job creation, voters still lean towards Trump’s administration in terms of perceived accomplishments. The Biden campaign has aired ads attacking Trump’s handling of the economy, but the public perception remains in favor of Trump. This divide in public opinion could have implications for the upcoming election and the future direction of the country.
In other news, the White House is planning for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to have a minimal presence at college commencement ceremonies due to growing pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses. The Arizona GOP has selected state Sen. Jake Hoffman, who was indicted last week for his role in overturning Biden’s win in the state, as a national committeeman. Hunter Biden’s lawyers are planning to sue Fox News over false reporting, and director Steven Spielberg is working with Biden’s campaign for the Democratic National Convention.
