Less than a THIRD of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy, guns and immigration

Just one-third of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's handling of the economy as he gears up his presidential campaign and Republicans vying to replace him enter a critical period.

His ratings on the economy comes after Biden has repeatedly touted the nation's 3.4 per cent unemployment rate, the lowest in decades. Biden and his economic team have also touted several months of consecutive drops in key inflation indicators.

The AP-NORC poll comes as multiple surveys show a tight race for the White House, with Biden narrowly leading former President Donald Trump.

It also follows surveys showing many Americans don't want either Biden or Trump to run again, while sharing persistent concerns about the 80-year-old president's age.  

Biden performs even more poorly on other top issues, following a trip to Japan where he stumbled while visiting a shrine.

Just a third or less of Americans surveyed approve of President Biden's handling of the economy, gun policy and immigration

On gun policy – in a year when mass shootings have exceeded the number of days ticking by on the calendar – Biden gets 31 per cent approval with 67 per cent disapproval.

He has renewed his calls for an assault weapons ban and other measures, without signs of new action in Congress. He was able to achieve gun security measures after a prior round of mass shootings, and touted the efforts as the first in a generation. 

Biden fares just as poorly on immigration – following the end of Title 42 authority and a week earlier this month of apprehensions at the border reaching a stunning 10,000 per day.

President Biden's approval stands at 40 per cent in the survey, with 59 per cent disapproval of how he is handling his job as president

Biden's low marks on immigration follows the end of Title 42 authority and a surge of migration from people who traveled through Mexico

Biden has renewed his call for an assault weapons ban, without effect

His poor marks on gun policy follows a series of mass shootings involving high-powered weapons like the AR-15

The last year has also seen the phenomenon of Republicans governors in border states shipping migrants by bus to liberal and northern cities. That has led to some inside-the-tent criticism of Biden from New York City Mayor Eric Adams. 

Biden's troubles on the economy come as he holds high-stakes negotiations with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. House Republicans are demanding spending cuts as the price of lifting the debt ceiling. A default could send the economy into a recession – but steep cuts could also shut down growth while hampering the agenda Biden plans to run on.

Biden's support is far from absolute within his own party. Just about half of Democrats surveyed approve of his handling of guns and immigration policy. 

President Biden's approval stands at 40 per cent in the survey, with 59 per cent disapproval of how he is handling his job as president.