Afghanistan is a political disaster for the Biden administration. Americans have long wanted the war to end, but they also believe Biden botched the withdrawal: 71 percent of Americans rate his handling of Afghanistan as “only fair” or “poor” while just 27 percent say his performance is “excellent” or “good.” Most importantly, Biden’s net job approval rating has dropped seven points since Kabul fell.
This suggests a scary outcome for Democrats. When voters turn against a president, they usually vent their anger by voting out his down-ballot allies. Moreover, Biden is the glue holding his party together: If he becomes less popular, progressives may feel emboldened to criticize him, splitting his party when it most needs unity.
So what happens next? It’s too early to know for sure — but the data suggests a short-term rebound for Biden, with the possibility of long-term problems for congressional Democrats. CONTINUED
David Byler, Washington Post
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