Abu-Ghazaleh Shares Insights from US Analyst Bruce Stokes on the Upcoming 2024 US Election

The 60th presidential election of the United States of America will happen on the 5th of November 2024. The country is facing various challenges in the economic, social, and foreign policy domains, making the election a heated divisive contest. Joe Biden, the current president, has low popularity and faces difficulties in winning public approval on different issues.

Donald Trump is ahead in the Republican primary despite his legal issues and controversial actions. He has a faithful group of supporters who view him as a target of political oppression and a protector of American values, with an almost cult like following. He also has rivals from other Republican candidates who question his record and trustworthiness in light of recent charges against him, being the first US president to face criminal charges, but many Republican supporters do not see his legal troubles as very serious.

A survey by Pew Research Center in August 2023 shows that only 23% of Americans are happy with the way things are going in the country, while 76% are unhappy. The survey also reveals that there is a large gap between Democrats and Republicans on how they perceive the country’s problems and priorities. For instance, 56% of Republicans believe that America is at risk of failing as a nation, while only 28% of Democrats think the same; 83% of Democrats say that tackling global climate change should be a top priority, while only 21% of Republicans agree. The American public is clearly split on many issues with a gap that is widening, as it seems voters are living in information bubbles which may explain their biased views.

The election result will depend on how the candidates address the public mood, which is pessimistic, partisan, and divided on many issues. Some voters also express a deeper sense of moral decline and national failure, especially among Republicans. The election may also be influenced by external factors, such as the global economy, and the geopolitical tensions.

Some 60% of Americans see inflation, health care costs, partisanship, drugs and guns as the country’s biggest problems. These key topics will shape the campaign and the election result, in addition to how to deal with China as a major US rival, the ongoing war in Ukraine and Taiwan as flashpoint between US and China.
The 2024 US election will be a crucial moment for the future of the country and the world. The candidates will have to address the concerns and aspirations of the American people, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the global environment. The election will also test the resilience and strength of the American democracy, which has been shaken by the events of the past few years, such as the pandemic, the economic crisis, the social unrest, the Capitol riot, and the impeachment trials.

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
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Bruce Stokes is the executive director of the Transatlantic Task Force and senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund. He was the director of Global Economic Attitudes at the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, and is a former international economics columnist for the National Journal, a Washington-based public policy magazine. He is also a former senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.