CHUCK TODD;
This Sunday: Poll vault.
PRES. JOE BIDEN:
Jobs are up. People are back to work.
CHUCK TODD:
Our new NBC News poll shows a jump in President Biden’s approval ratings.
PRES. JOE BIDEN:
We’re making progress. We’re getting other prices down as well.
CHUCK TODD:
— and signs that Democrats’ standing may be improving ahead of November. One explanation: the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
WOMAN:
We’re moving backwards. It’s like one step forward, three steps back.
CHUCK TODD:
Another: The high-profile presence of former President Trump.
FMR. PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
We may have to do it again. … Stay tuned, everybody, stay tuned.
CHUCK TODD:
My guests this morning: The number-two Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Senate candidate Joe O’Dea, running to flip a Colorado seat. Plus, the Senate will look into charges by a former U.S. Attorney that Mr. Trump tried to use the Justice Department to punish his enemies and protect his friends.
GEOFFERY BERMAN:
Pissing off the president is not a federal crime.
CHUCK TODD:
Geoffrey Berman joins me this morning. Also, border wars. Amid another surge at the southern border —
WOMAN:
Some of them have been through really horrific things.
CHUCK TODD:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ships four dozen unsuspecting Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
GOV. RON DeSANTIS
Every community in America should be sharing in the burden. It shouldn’t all fall on red states.
STATE REP. FERNANDES:
It is so cruel, so depraved, that someone would do that.
CHUCK TODD:
Joining me for insight and analysis are: New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker, Former Obama White House Senior Advisor Stephanie Cutter, Republican strategist Al Cardenas and Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post. Welcome to Sunday. It’s Meet the Press.
ANNOUNCER:
From NBC News in Washington, the longest running show in television history. This is Meet the Press, with Chuck Todd.
CHUCK TODD:
Good Sunday morning. President Biden is finally getting his polling bump. A spate of news from anger over the overturning of Roe v. Wade to falling gas prices has helped push the president’s poll numbers to their highest point in almost a year, and it’s thanks mostly to Democrats coming home. Among registered voters, Mr. Biden’s job approval in our new NBC News poll is sitting at 45%, 52% disapproving. The big jump really was from Democrats, particularly younger ones happy about the passage of the agenda, perhaps student loans as well. But those are hardly robust numbers, and they’re a jump from last month’s 42, 55 split. And the race for control of Congress is dead even, 46% for Democrats, 46% for Republicans. The remarkable thing about Mr. Biden’s numbers is how he even manages to get to 45%. On issue after issue, his approval ratings are consistently below 45. On foreign policy it’s just 42%; the economy, even lower — 40%. Border? Lower than that — 36%. And the cost of living? Even lower — at a paltry 30%. So, what’s happening? One is of course the Dobbs decision. It’s clearly energizing voters, and not just Democrats. Only 37% approve of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe — 61% disapprove of that decision. But just as important to President Biden is getting a lift from simply Donald Trump’s presence — the high profile, investigations, all of it is preventing Republicans from turning the midterms into a referendum on Mr. Biden. [INAUDIBLE] loves to say, judge him by the alternative, not the almighty, and he may be benefitting from that right now. Voters’ feelings towards Mr. Trump are just 34% positive and 54% negative — 20 points underwater — it’s his lowest point in a year and a half. Compare that to President Biden’s current personal ratings: 42% positive, 47% negative — not great, but that’s only five points underwater. So where are we? Bottom line is this: Less than two months from the midterms, each party is running the campaign they want to run: Republicans…
Read More: Meet the Press – September 18, 2022