Who is the ‘Chaos candidate’ for the 2024 US presidential election? Posted by Investing.com

US President Joe Biden’s 2020 election campaign is based on a promise to restore normality following the chaotic Trump era.

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, there are growing questions about who the ‘chaos candidate’ is, analysts at Piper Sandler said in a note Thursday.

Former President Donald Trump remains a controversial figure. Despite the legal challenges, Trump still enjoys significant support, and polls show he is no longer a clear-cut candidate.

Meanwhile, voter perception of President Biden’s age and abilities is another important factor. A Harvard-Harris poll found that 59% of voters believe Biden’s “age, memory decline, and difficulty concentrating” make him “potentially dangerous to the country.”

Moreover, 63% believe Biden’s public gaffes are becoming more frequent, raising concerns about his ability to complete a second term without a disruptive transition due to health concerns.

There is a widespread belief among voters that Biden is not significantly better than Trump on ethical or legal issues. Voters narrowly believe Trump committed a crime, but they also suspect the allegations are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Hunter Biden’s impending trial and Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in his son’s business dealings further complicate the president’s ethical landscape.

Polls show voters trust Trump over Biden to handle the major challenges facing the country, from international turmoil to domestic issues like inflation. This has made daily life more difficult for many Americans.

“There is chaos around the world, at our southern border and on college campuses,” said analysts at Piper Sandler. “Voters trust Trump over Biden to solve almost every big problem facing the country,” he wrote.

“The inflation surge may not fit a narrow definition of chaos, but it is making everyday life much more difficult for the average voter, and this is the biggest problem for them, and they spend a lot of money. “Criticize Biden directly,” he added.

The perception of the two candidates is a mixture of distrust and concern, so it is difficult to pinpoint one ‘chaos candidate’. But the upcoming trials and ongoing ethical questions surrounding Biden and Trump suggest there could be chaos on both sides depending on how these issues unfold.

Perhaps most importantly, Biden’s stance on the issue of protecting democracy, which Democrats hope to make a centerpiece of their campaign, is not as strong as they would like. In key swing states, Biden and Trump are nearly tied on the issue, indicating the incumbent lacks a clear advantage.