Biden Unpopular in Iowa

We don't often have an occasion to quote the Des Moines Register, especially in a non-primary election year. That said, politics in Iowa does punch above its weight because their caucus is normally the first indication we get of how would-be presidential candidates are perceived by the public. See their new poll:

Thirty-one percent of Iowans approve of how Biden is handling his job, while 62% disapprove and 7% are not sure, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

That’s a 12 percentage point drop in approval from June, the last time the question was asked. Biden's disapproval numbers jumped by 10 points during the same period. In June, 43% approved and 52% disapproved.

Biden's job approval rating is lower than former President Donald Trump's worst showing in the Iowa Poll. The former Republican president's worst job approval was 35% in December 2017. Other recent presidents' worst Iowa Poll results: Barack Obama, 36%, in February 2014, and George W. Bush, 25%, in September 2008.

Those poll numbers are encouraging. However, overconfidence at this stage is imprudent.