President Biden finds himself trailing Donald J. Trump in five of the six crucial battleground states, a year ahead of the 2024 election, as per recent polls by The New York Times and Siena College. The surveys indicate margins of three to 10 percentage points in favor of Trump among registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Wisconsin is the lone state where Biden maintains a two-percentage-point lead.

President Biden is trailing Donald Trump in five of the six most important battleground states one year before the 2024 election, new polls by The New York Times and Siena College have found. https://t.co/vkZgb4pC8G

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 5, 2023

Despite Biden’s victory in these states in 2020, discontent is palpable. A majority of voters express that Biden’s policies have personally harmed them, revealing fractures in the multiracial and multigenerational coalition that propelled him to victory. Notably, demographic groups that overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020 are now more closely contested, with two-thirds of the electorate believing the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Concerns about Biden’s age and effectiveness as a leader loom large, with 71 percent of respondents across demographics deeming him “too old” to be an effective president. In contrast, Trump, at 77, faces less criticism regarding his age.

Economic issues emerge as a focal point, with voters favoring Trump over Biden by a significant 22-point margin. This preference spans gender, education levels, age groups, and income brackets, posing a considerable challenge for Biden’s campaign.

As Biden faces these challenges, he has a year to turn the situation around. Despite his age and perceived weaknesses, economic indicators are positive. However, the polls indicate an uphill battle for the president, with Trump leading in key states and voters expressing dissatisfaction with Biden’s policies.