A growing number of Americans believe former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic 2020 presidential nominee, is suffering from dementia, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by Rasmussen and published Monday evening, showed that 38% of American likely voters believe Biden has dementia, compared to 48% who say he likely does not have dementia. Fourteen percent are unsure. Among those with an opinion, 44% believe the former Vice President has dementia, compared to 56% who believe he does not. Broken down by party affiliation, 20% of self-described Democrats believe Biden is suffering from dementia, along with 66% of Republicans and 30% of independents. A majority of likely voters say Biden’s frequent gaffes and confusing public statements make the issue a valid one for discussion, with 61% saying Biden should publicly address questions regarding his mental state. Fully 41% of likely voters say it is “very important” for Biden to publicly address the issue. The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters between June 25th and 28th, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%, with a 95% level of confidence.
