President Joe Biden is a distant second to ‘don’t know’ in an open-ended poll question that asks Democrats who they want to lead their party.

Biden, who is chief of the party in addition to running the country for the past two years, was picked by just 12 per cent of respondents in a new AP-NORC poll when asked who Democrats want to lead.

That puts him ahead of new leaders bursting onto the scene, as well as longtime legislators, but is not a vote of confidence as he intends to launch a presidential reelection campaign soon. 

The news comes as the 2024 Republican field is beginning to take shape, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announcing her decision to challenge former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination. 

Trailing Biden among Democrats was new Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who was featured on the House floor during dramatic votes to finally make Republican Kevin McCarthy speaker.

Just 12 per cent of Democrats name President Biden when a new AP-NORC poll asked who they want to lead the party

He is tied at 5% with fellow New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the fiery progressive who is starting her third term in office and maintains a devoted following.

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Former presidential candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is at 5 per cent, although he is technically not even a Democrat. Sanders is an Independent who caucuses with Democrats and sought the party’s nomination.

Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Vice President Kamala Harris, term-limited former President Barack Obama, and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer all get 3 per cent support, with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 2 per cent, weeks after stepping down from her role as party leader in the House. 

It all comes as Biden’s approval rating remains at 41 per cent in the latest Gallup poll. 

Among Republicans, there is also a substantial plurality who don’t know or didn’t answer, 34 per cent, and a two-person battle for top spot.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis narrowly leads among those Republicans want to lead the party, beating Donald Trump, who is at 20 per cent more than two years after losing to Joe Biden and skipping his inauguration, then becoming the first Republican to launch a presidential campaign for 2024.

Other prominent Republicans are back at 1 per cent: former President George W Bush, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Haley, Rep. Jim Jordan, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, and new Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was selected by 5 per cent in the open-ended question

Five per cent named new House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who burst on the scene during Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s battle for control

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gets chosen by 5 per cent to lead the party, despite not technically being a Democrat