Biden Maintains Strong Approval Ratings Despite Classified Document Leak Scandal

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As U.S. President Joe Biden's approval rating becomes embroiled in a classified documents leak scandal, which is being seen as a negative factor for his re-election bid next year, his approval rating appears to remain stable.

According to a survey conducted by CBS and YouGov from the 25th to the 27th among 2,500 American adults regarding President Biden's job performance (margin of error ±3.0 percentage points), 44% of respondents gave a positive evaluation, the results of which were announced on the 29th (local time).

This figure is unchanged from the 44% approval rating recorded on the 9th, before the scandal spread, indicating that despite the risk of the classified documents leak, the approval rating is unusually stable.

U.S. President Joe Biden. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

When asked whether President Biden is cooperating with the investigation into the classified documents, 61% of respondents answered affirmatively, and more than half, 54%, said the Biden administration is handling the classified documents investigation well.

Regarding the question of whether former officials might be keeping classified documents at home, 40% responded that it is a "frequent occurrence," and 45% said it happens "occasionally." Only 14% answered that it rarely or never happens.

There was a clear difference in opinion between the Democratic and Republican parties regarding the fairness of the classified documents investigation.

Among Democratic supporters, 65% said the investigations into document leaks involving both President Biden and former President Donald Trump are fair to both sides, whereas only 24% of Republican supporters agreed that the investigations are fair to both parties.

Among Republican supporters, 69% believed the investigation is more favorable to President Biden, while 23% of Democrats thought it was more favorable to former President Trump.

In a survey conducted by NBC from the 20th to the 24th among 1,000 adults (margin of error ±3.1 percentage points), President Biden's approval rating was recorded at 45%, a 1 percentage point increase from 44% in November last year.

President Biden's approval rating has steadily maintained after rising to 45% in September last year.

Regarding the classified documents leak itself, similar concerns were raised about both President Biden and former President Trump.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents expressed concern about the repeated discovery of classified documents at President Biden's residence, and 67% also expressed concern about former President Trump.

Following the discovery of hundreds of classified documents during the search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence last year, classified documents from his time as vice president have been repeatedly found at President Biden's residence and private office, prompting a special prosecutor to launch an investigation.

Despite the classified documents leak controversy, reports continue that President Biden will officially begin his re-election campaign after the upcoming State of the Union address next month.