Houston “Are you better off today than four years ago?” Voters rarely answer the question so complicatedly. Former President Donald Trump asked his fans the age-old question on Truth Social Monday in all uppercase. President Joe Biden repeated the same at three Texas fundraisers last week to conclude a southwest swing.
Each candidate hopes the response favors him, but it may depend on whether people are thinking about the COVID-19 epidemic, their wallets, or their overall well-being.
Four years ago, the coronavirus caused a statewide shutdown, rising unemployment, and a falling stock market. The expected Democratic and Republican nominees are heading into a rematch in which most Americans have forgotten the virus, markets are up, and unemployment is near record lows.
If the handling of the once-in-a-century epidemic dominated the 2020 presidential contest, Americans appear to be thinking differently in 2024. "A few days ago, Donald Trump asked the famous question at one of his rallies: Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Biden told donors this week. “Well Donald, I'm glad you asked that question, man, because I hope everyone in the country remembers March 2020.”
Biden recounted dark moments from the early days of the pandemic, when hospital emergency rooms were overcrowded, first responders were risking their lives to treat the sick, and some nurses wore trash bags due to a lack of PPE. Trump casts a wider net when examining American culture.
“Under the Trump administration, you, your family, your neighbors, your communities, and our country were far, far, far better off,” he claimed at a rally this month. “America was stronger, tougher, richer, safer, and more confident.”
“You have wars that never would have taken place,” Trump said. ‘Russia would never have attacked Ukraine. Israel would never have been attacked. You wouldn't have inflation." When Ronald Reagan skewered Jimmy Carter in a 1980 presidential debate, he became president. The “are you better off” inquiry originated.
A February AP-NORC poll found that 24% of Americans were better off than when Biden became president, 41% were worse off, and 34% were neither. Majorities also felt the country and economy were worse now than when Biden became president.
Biden aides said the question, like other presidential performance polls, has become political. They believe their own studies reveal that voters forget the pandemic unless reminded and think of the pre-pandemic years when questioned about Trump. Biden's staff said they wanted to meet voters where they are, not ask the Reagan question. Biden quickly responded to Trump's comment.
Speaking to wealthy Texas benefactors Biden reminded his audience that four years ago, morgues were being put up outside hospitals due to high mortality, unemployment, stock market decline, and empty grocery store shelves. Trump was ignoring his public health experts and promoting unproven medicines.
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