58 percent in new poll say they’re living paycheck to paycheck

Fifty-eight percent of registered voters say they are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll released Wednesday.

The voters said their monthly income is consumed by basic living expenses — housing, food, health and transportation — leaving little to no money left over.

The poll offers more dismal information for President Biden during an election year where the economy is expected to be a major issue in the presidential race against former President Trump.

Fifty eight percent of those polled disapprove of Biden’s handling of the economy. Ninety-two percent are somewhat or very concerned about inflation.

Nearly two-thirds of surveyed voters said they have had to cut back on purchases over the past month, including money for groceries, entertainment and restaurants.

Asked who is the most responsible for the state of the economy, 42 percent of those polled said Biden. Nearly 45 percent said they are worse off than a year ago when it comes to the economy, with only 23 percent saying they are better off financially.

Voters surveyed listed the economy as the main topic they hope to hear candidates address when they debate. About 77 percent said they are at least “somewhat” or “likely” to tune into this year’s debates.

The first debate is scheduled for June 27 — just three weeks away and well before the parties hold their respective political conventions: Republicans will meet in Milwaukee July 15-18;
Democrats will meet in Chicago in August.

The NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted through an online panel May 28-29. The margins of error varied based on each question. For the paycheck-to-paycheck question, the margin was 2.9 percentage points.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Trump holds a 1-point edge over Biden in national polls — 45 percent to 44 percent — which is well within the margins of error for aggregated polls, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling tracker.

A Florida Atlantic University PolCom Lab/Mainstreet Research poll of battleground states released this week found the parties’ presumptive nominees are running neck and neck in hypothetical match-ups in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden won all three by thin margins in 2020.