Key takeaways
- Among those hearing positive news around Biden, the major topics include vaccines, infrastructure, the child tax credit, and the pandemic broadly.
- As the share who say “the worst is yet to come” about the pandemic rises, new variants and the number of unvaccinated Americans are driving increasing pessimism.
- Majorities report being concerned about the Delta variant spreading both nationwide and in their local communities.
Biden’s Ratings on His Handling of His Job as President, the Pandemic, and the Economy All Remain Positive
Biden’s approval ratings are at +25 on the pandemic, +8 overall, and +5 on the economy.
Vaccines, Infrastructure, the Child Tax Credit, and the Pandemic Dominate the Positive Conversation Around Biden
Nine in ten Democrats (89%), 59% of independents, and 38% of Republicans are hearing “mostly positive” or a “mix
of positive and negative” on Biden.
As Concerns About the Delta Variant Grow, Fewer Now Saying Worst of Pandemic is Over
Increasing pessimism about the state of the pandemic is cross-partisan: there has been a 19-point increase in the share of Democrats who say the “worst is yet to come” (from 13% to 32%), a 13-point increase among independents (16% to 29%), and an 11-point increase among Republicans (from 11% to 22%) since mid-June.
New Variants (Delta Specifically) and the Share of Americans Still Unvaccinated Drive View That “Worst Is Yet to Come”
Among respondents who say “the worst is yet to come,” they cite the number of Americans who are still not
vaccinated, variants generally, and specifically the Delta variant as reasons why they feel this way.
- Compared to when last asked in March of 2021, new variants and unvaccinated Americans remain top concerns.
Two in Three Concerned About National and Local Spread of the Delta Variant
Less than two in five Republicans who watch Fox News* are concerned about either the national or local spread of the Delta variant, compared to roughly half of non-Fox News Republicans who are concerned about each.
Four in Five Say Delta Variant Will Lead to Re-Introduction of Mask Mandates and Social Distancing
Among those who live in “hot spot” states, or states with recent surges in coronavirus cases, 82% say the Delta variant will lead to some parts of the country re-introducing measures like mask mandates.
Vaccine Rollout Approval Remains at Roughly Three in Four As Vaccination Rates Plateau
Across party lines, at least three in five approve of the vaccine rollout: 86% of Democrats, 60% of independents, and 61% of Republicans each approve.
Among Those Unlikely to Get Vaccinated, Their Top Concerns Are Rushed Approval and Side Effects
Among the 22% of Americans who say they are unlikely to get the coronavirus vaccine, their top concerns are that the vaccine development was rushed or that there will be side effects.
Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Republicans Divided by Media Consumption, Geography, and Income
Vaccinated Republicans are more likely to not watch Fox News, live in suburban areas, and make a higher income than Republicans who are not vaccinated.
About The Study
This release features findings from a national online survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted July 15-19, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 100 Hispanic voters, 101 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 71 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.