South-Carolina

Biden’s problems with younger voters are glaring, poll finds

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2024

Biden’s problems with younger voters are glaring, poll finds

Younger voters have been a crucial voting bloc for Democrats for decades.

Voters 18-29 years old made up roughly 1 in 6 voters in 2020, and President Biden won them by more than 20 points, according to exit polls. He won voters under 45, who were 40% of the electorate, by double-digits, too.

But surveys have found Biden struggling with the groups, and the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll underscores the depth of his problems with them.

It’s a reason why Biden is locked in a tight race with former President Donald Trump and falls behind when third-party candidates are introduced, according to the survey.

In a head-to-head match up with Trump, Biden and Trump are in a statistical tie, with Biden narrowly ahead 50%-48%. He leads by just 4 points with voters under 45 and by 6 with Gen Z/Millennials.

But when independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, as well as Green Party candidate Jill Stein are introduced, Biden trails Trump by 4 points. Trump leads by 6 with Gen Z/Millennials and by 8 with the under 45 group in this scenario.

“They don’t see a lot of connection to him,” Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, which conducted the survey, said of younger voters. “They’re worried about the cost of living, which isn’t reserved just for them, but clearly, as they envision moving into adulthood, cost of living, housing costs, how to get into that next step seems to be an obstacle. … They’re seeing the economy as a lot of other voters do – laying it on Biden’s doorstep at the moment.”

Diving deeper into the issues Biden is facing with younger voters

Younger voters don’t approve of the job Biden is doing, don’t particularly like him very much, don’t think he has the mental fitness to be president and don’t think he’s handling the most important issues very well — be it the economy, immigration or the war between Israel and Hamas.

Consider:

Just 24% of those 18-29 approve of the job he’s doing.
62% have an unfavorable opinion of him, while Trump gets a net-positive rating — 49%-42%. That’s the highest favorability rating for Trump of any of the age groups. With voters overall, Trump has a slightly higher unfavorable rating (54%) than Biden (52%).

That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve moved heavily toward Trump, though, because younger voters are among the most likely to have an unfavorable opinion of both Biden and Trump, so-called “double haters.”

“Where they end up is a question still,” Miringoff said, adding, “This is the unsatisfied, unattached, disliking-of-the-candidates group. So it’s not that they’re racing to Trump, they’re just not where Biden’s had this group in the past.”

Those under 45 and Gen Z/Millennials are the most likely to say they’ll skip the presidential line on their 2024 ballot (12%). Even more bad news for Biden: That’s roughly the same as non-whites, people in big cities and the Northeast — all key Biden groups and areas.
Gen Z/Millennials are the least likely to say they’re definitely voting (69%).
Gen Z/Millennials are the most likely age group to say they’re casting their vote for RFK Jr. (11%).

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There is a potential opening for Biden with the group:

Only 54% of Gen Z/Millennials say they have definitely made up their minds who they are voting for.

One in 5 of those under 45 say a guilty verdict for Trump would make them less likely to vote for the former president, although 1 in 5 also say they would be more likely to vote for Trump if he’s found not guilty. So they might be somewhat persuadable either way.

Why younger voters are so disillusioned with Biden

The economy

Prices are top of mind for voters overall. Despite strong signs in the economy, including low unemployment and wages outpacing inflation, people haven’t gotten used to a new normal post-pandemic.

When people are in a sour mood, especially on the economy, they tend to blame the president — even if it’s one of the things a president has the least control over.

Younger voters are even less happy than voters overall with how Biden is handling the economy:

A Marist poll from April found just 37% of voters 18-29 approved how Biden was handling the economy, compared to 42% overall.

Immigration

Biden also gets low ratings on his handling of immigration, but, again, fewer younger voters approve of his handling of that than the population writ large:

An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll from January found just 23% of voters 18-29 approved of his handling of immigration, compared to 29% overall.

His age and mental fitness

A recent New York Times/Siena poll found voters 18-29 were the most likely age group to think Biden is too old to be an effective president. A whopping 82% of them said so, 8-to-12 points higher than every other age group. That was more than 20 points worse than how they viewed Trump on the subject, though he’s only about 4 years younger.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll from last year found younger voters were more likely to say they had a “real concern” about Biden’s mental fitness to be president. That was also true of recent Marist polls in the swing states of Georgia and North Carolina.

The Israel-Hamas war

Despite widespread college campus protests this spring, the Israel-Hamas war is not the top issue for younger voters.

A Harvard youth poll found that inflation, health care and housing topped the list of concerns for those 18-29. But the war is yet another, high-profile topic that younger voters break with Biden on.

In the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey, those 18-29 were the most likely of any age group to say the U.S.:

is not giving enough humanitarian aid to Palestinians (40%) and
should cut off all support for Israel until there is a ceasefire (39%).

Forty-five percent of 18- to 29-year-olds think the U.S. is doing too much to provide military aid to Israel. Forty-eight percent of people 30 to 44 years old thought so, too.

Those views, though, are out of step with the strong majority of the country — and puts Biden in a bind.

Overall, 71% said either the U.S. should support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas but should also use its influence to encourage Israel to protect Palestinians (48%) or that it should fully support all of Israel’s military actions against Hamas (23%).

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More people are saying they’ve made up their minds about who they’re voting for

In April, 60% said they’d made up their minds. That rose to 64% last month and stands at 66% now.

Trump and Biden voters are equal in saying they already know who they’re voting for and nothing will change their minds (68% each).

Gen Z/Millennials and independents are the least likely to say their minds are made up, and 1 in 5 independent women said they are genuinely undecided, the most of any group.

Biden makes up some ground with college-educated and older voters

Biden continues to do better than he did in 2020 with older voters and white voters with college degrees, both men and women.

For example, Biden leads with Baby Boomers by 15 points over Trump even with the third-party candidates included. Trump won older voter groups in 2020.

Biden also has huge leads with college-educated white voters. In fact, there’s a net 54-point gap in support for Biden between whites with degrees and those without.

And these are groups that said they are among the most likely to vote.

“It’s the fourth inning, and there’s a lot of the game still left to be played,” Miringoff said. “The turnout is the hidden piece of this puzzle. This is not an election that’s grabbing people on either side. Trump has his base; Biden has his anti-Trump base, and the rest is sort of hanging out there.”

The survey of 1,261 adults was conducted May 21 to 23 by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/- 3.4 percentage points.

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South-Carolina

CNN names Greenville in Top 3 best towns to visit in America in 2026

Published

7 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Press Room

CNN names Greenville in Top 3 best towns to visit in America in 2026

CNN Travel ranked Greenville, South Carolina, as the No. 3 best town to visit in America in 2026.
The city has undergone a significant revitalization since the 1980s, transforming its downtown from an industrial hub into a vibrant center.
Key attractions highlighted by CNN include the Swamp Rabbit Trail, Falls Park on the Reedy, and the city’s growing dining scene.
Despite its growth, some historic structures were lost during the city’s transformation.

Residents who live in Greenville know it’s a gem that shines brightly among other top cities in the U.S.

Word about the mid-size city is spreading with CNN Travel ranking it No. 3 on its list of best towns to visit in America in 2026. The only other cities ahead of it were Sarasota, Florida at No.1 followed by New Haven, Connecticut.

And CNN had a lot to say about Greenville’s southern charm and vibrant downtown.

“Greenville’s got a Main Street that lives up to its name, at the heart of a lively downtown connected to other parts of the city by the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile pedestrian and bike network lined with parks and local businesses,” said CNN.

Those new to the area may be enjoying all that it now has to offer, but much has changed since the 80s. Here’s how far the city has come and other aspects that make it special, according to CNN.

Greenville’s transformation ‘decades-in-the-making’

Compared to other cities, Greenville’s downtown feels safe, a description worlds away from what it once was. Russell Stall, executive director of the Greenville County Historical Society, told CNN the area currently known as Fall Parks used to be a place of prostitution and drug use. When Greenville was known as the “Textile Capital of the World,” its industrial hub for cotton mills and manufacturing were powered by the Reedy River in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, dyes and chemicals polluted the river’s waters, hence the nickname the “Rainbow Reedy.” What remains of the era are a few former mill house loft apartments. In the 1990s, the city’s mills began to shutter.

Stall called downtown’s uplift “one of the most significant revitalizations in the history of the city,” referencing the Hyatt Hotel, Peace Center, music venues Coach Music Factory and The Mockingbird, and Fluor Field among key precursors of city change.

Although many positives have come with Greenville’s rise, there have been some downfalls, like the loss of the historic City Fall.

“We tore down a lot of the historic structures that we shouldn’t have,” Stall told CNN.

CNN spotlights Greenville’s sights, recreation, dining scene

Often referred to as a “city with a small town feel,” Greenville has a wealth of things to do, so don’t let the saying mislead you. Sightseeing is an activity that doesn’t cost a dime, with CNN highlighting Liberty Bridge and the Falls as two places with amazing views. The Grand Bohemian Lodge was mentioned due to its “rustic wood-and-stone aesthetic,” accessible through Reedy River’s paths.

Other things to do include riding a bike along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, visiting the Greenville Zoo, and exploring the Village of West Greenville, the city’s art district. CNN also spotlighted Michelin-starred restaurant Scoundrel and Chef Joe Cash, a Greenville native with experience in New York and Copenhagen’s restaurants scene.

“You come home and you see, you know, there’s some new restaurants, some fun things to do. Some more interesting, a little more modern, a little less steak and potatoes, a little more farm-to-table,” Cash said. “And so kind of just watching that over the years, it made sense for me to come back.”

CNN’s Top 10 best towns to visit in America 2026

Sarasota (Florida)
New Haven (Connecticut)
Greenville
Bethlehem (Pennysylvania)
Fort Collins (Colorado)
Burlington (Vermont)
Juneau (Alaska)
Iowa City (Iowa)
Lawrence (Kansas)
Roanoke (Virginia)

Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.

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South-Carolina

Dawn Staley shows off new South Carolina colorway on A’ja Wilson Nike shoes

Published

17 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

Dawn Staley shows off new South Carolina colorway on A’ja Wilson Nike shoes

COLUMBIA — Coach Dawn Staley gave fans an early look at what’s to come with South Carolina women’s basketball and Nike.

The university officially switched to the brand as its uniform supplier on July 1 after 19 years with Under Armour. This move brings the chance to support A’ja Wilson, a former Gamecocks star who has had her own signature shoe with Nike since May 2025.

In the contract of the Nike agreement, it specifically stated Staley’s team would get Wilson’s shoes, including custom team colors. On July 2, Staley posted photos of the shoes.

While it’s unconfirmed as of now if they are the exact shoes the team will get and wear, the ones Staley posted are garnet, black and white “A’Twos” with Gamecocks logos. One shoe has a black top, the other with white, with matching logos and garnet detail around the base of the shoe.

The bottom of each shoe has Wilson’s logo from her Nike line, in addition to the signature Nike swoosh.

Staley captioned the post, “Why are my feet on fire? Here’s why?!! @GamecockWBB 1 of 1s but are @_ajawilson22 A’Twos!”

Wilson started with her shoes called the “A’One” and then released a second version in May called the A’Twos. South Carolina players can now wear any Nike shoes they want, but the contract specifically mentions the latest version of the A’Twos.

Staley had her own Nike signature shoe released in 1999 called the “Nike Zoom S5.”

“Having been a Nike athlete most of my life, I’m well-versed in what partnership with them means to an organization and its athletes,” Staley said in the July 1 news release. “I am excited that all of our teams at South Carolina will get to feel that, too. For our women’s basketball team, only good things have happened when we’ve partnered with A’ja Wilson, so I look forward to what’s coming next in that legacy.”

Five South Carolina athletes signed signed NIL deals as part of Nike’s new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, including women’s basketball stars Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor and edge rusher Dylan Stewart round out the group of five Gamecocks who are part of the inaugural Blue Ribbon class for South Carolina.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

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