that the party and its candidates are in a robust position. democrats are coming off a strong showing in the midterm election chairman democrats picked up 40 seats in en route to the house of representatives. and despite a strong economy, the president s approval rating according to gallup is stuck at 43%. he s the only president in the history of gallup to ever crack 50%. headed into the first democratic debates next week, joe biden is atop the democratic polls but he s not the democratic candidate who beads donald trump head to head. quinnipiac poll released on march 11th shows vice president bideth ahead of president trump 53-40. vermont senator bernie sand over trump, 51/42. kamala harris leads 49/41. massachusetts senator elizabeth warren 49/42. south bend mayor pete buttigieg.