A majority of government employees support the idea of Democrats removing President Joe Biden from the running for the 2024 presidential election, according to a new poll.
This month, Rasmussen Reports released a poll asking respondents their opinions on several topics related to this year's election, including whether they support or oppose “Democrats finding an alternative candidate to Joe Biden before the November election.”
The poll found that 65% of government employees support Democrats removing Biden from the ballot, including 34% who said they strongly support the idea and 31% who said they somewhat support it.
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Meanwhile, the poll found that 28% of government officials opposed the idea, 6% were somewhat opposed and 22% were strongly opposed.
The poll results were released just over five months before what is likely to be a rematch of the 2020 presidential election between Biden and former President Donald Trump.
At 81, Biden is the oldest US president ever. If re-elected, Trump, at 77, would be the second-oldest president ever. Biden has faced criticism in recent days, mainly from Republicans, about his age and mental ability.
An average of multiple general election polls by RealClearPolitics currently shows Trump leading Biden by 1.1 percentage points.
Earlier this year, Biden announced new rules to strengthen protections for federal employees across the country.
“Today, my administration is announcing that we will protect our 2.2 million public servants from political interference so they can do their jobs in the best interest of the American people,” Biden said in an April statement.
Biden previously repealed President Trump's executive order that sought to cut job security for more than 2 million federal workers across the country, according to the Associated Press.
Fifty-nine percent of entrepreneurs said they would support Democrats removing Biden from the ballot, as did 54% of private sector employees and 32% of retirees.
The poll also asked respondents about their views on potential replacements if Democrats were to remove Biden from the running, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, former first lady Michelle Obama, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
According to the poll, 9 percent chose Harris, 6 percent chose Clinton, 19 percent chose Michelle Obama, 11 percent chose Newsom, 5 percent chose Whitmer and 40 percent said they had no choice.
The Biden campaign declined to comment. Newsweek I contacted them via email.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
