by BASIC POINTS
- More than 40% of all Americans said they are very concerned about Biden’s mental health
- 52% of Democratic voters say they are concerned Biden may suffer from mental health issues
- 59% of independent voters say they are very or somewhat concerned about Biden’s mental health
A majority of Americans are concerned about President Joe Biden’s mental health, with more than half saying they believe he may be suffering from mental health issues, according to a new poll.
Among 1,376 adult voters polled between Oct. 5 and 7, at least 41 percent said they were very concerned about Biden’s mental health, while 23 percent said they were somewhat concerned about the issue, the latest I&I/TIPP poll results showed. .
In August, the poll asked respondents the same question. Compared to October’s results, only 59% said they were concerned about Biden’s mental health.
Across party lines, 52% of Democratic voters said in the October poll that they believe Biden may be suffering from mental health issues. Among Republicans, that number rose to 86 percent. Among independents, 59% said they were either concerned or somewhat concerned about Biden’s mental health.
Among demographic groups, 52% of black men, 59% of single women and 58% of self-described moderates said they were concerned about the president’s mental health.
The recent poll comes after a series of public appearances that appeared to show Biden as shaky and confused. In late September, footage taken from the Global Fund’s seventh replenishment conference event showed the president seemingly wandering off stage after speaking briefly.
Also late last month, Biden invited the audience to see if Jackie Walorski, the Republican representative who served as co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, was in attendance.
“Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” Biden asked the audience, according to a White House transcript of the event. “I didn’t think he was – he wouldn’t be here – to help make this happen.”
Biden’s gaffe comes a month after Walorski was killed in a head-on crash in Indiana. The late Republican congresswoman was traveling in a vehicle with her communications director Emma Thompson and regional director Zachary Potts when another car veered into their lane. All three were killed in the collision. Walorski died at 58.
White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre later downplayed Biden’s mistake, calling his comments “not that unusual.” Biden has since apologized to the Walorski family after the gaffe he made during the summit.
