If you follow the money, what does it show?
After our last poll, many readers expressed curiosity about Mr. Trump’s standing among voters of different income levels.
It would be interesting to look at income levels for Republican voters and Democratic voters, to see where vulnerability on the economy as an issue may exist. — Joyce Mary
One reader even went so far as to suggest that income may be more important than anything else:
To me, reporting poll results by income may now be more important than by any other single variable. There will be rising dissatisfaction with governments, no matter the party or race of the respondents, until the income gap is addressed. — Barry Anderson
We’re pretty far away from income becoming the most important variable in American politics. Although income was a defining line in American politics during the 20th century, the political gap between lower- and upper-income voters has essentially vanished during the Trump era. By some measures, the usual income gap might have even flipped in 2024, with Mr. Trump possibly becoming the first Republican to fare better among lower-income voters than upper-income ones.
That said, it was economic dissatisfaction that helped propel Mr. Trump’s gains among lower-income voters in 2024, and economic dissatisfaction is probably helping to roll those gains back. In New York Times/Siena polling over the past year, Mr. Trump’s approval rating was at 36 percent among voters making less than $50,000 per year, but 44 percent among others.
Similarly, voters making less than $50,000 per year prefer Democrats to Republicans for Congress by 12 percentage points, while the race is tied among all other voters.
Where does the blame on the economy end, and begin?
One reader suggested we ask a question about whether voters agreed with Mr. Trump’s contention that Mr. Biden was to blame for the country’s woes.
Suggested poll question: President Trump often blames former Presider Biden for many of the country’s current problems. Do you believe this criticism is fair or goes too far? — Tim Galvin, Bend, Ore.
Good news! We asked a similar question like this in our last poll: “Would you say the biggest challenges facing the U.S. economy were created by Donald Trump, Joe Biden or neither one of them?”
The result: 35 percent of voters said Mr. Biden was to blame, 31 percent said Mr. Trump, and 33 percent said neither.