When the Democrats suddenly pivot, there’s always some serious polling (that may be as yet unseen) behind it. Why are state Dems getting nervous about pandemic measures?
The polls show that COVID fatigue is real and it’s spectacular.
Six in ten Americans feel worn out by pandemic-related changes they have had to make to their daily lives over the past 20 months. This includes 36% who feel worn out a lot and 24% who feel worn out a little. The poll also finds that nearly half of the public feels angry about how Covid has impacted their daily lives – 24% a lot and 21% a little. Republicans (64%) are no more likely than Democrats (63%) to say they feel at least a little worn out by pandemic-related changes to their lives, but they are much more likely to report feeling angry (63% and 34%, respectively).
Looking at both feelings simultaneously, just over one-third (36%) of the country reports being both worn out and angry. Another 25% feels worn out but not angry and 9% feels angry but not worn out, while 30% say they don’t feel either way about Covid-driven changes to their daily lives. Other than partisan-related variations in these results, there are few significant demographic differences in reports of being either worn out or angry due to the pandemic. However, adults under 55 years old (74%) are somewhat more likely than those aged 55 and older (63%) to say that they feel either or both of these negative emotions.
In short, it’s the people who are more likely to be working and feel less at risk, who are getting tired of it all.
Anecdotally, we all have stories to share. And even when flying recently, I’ve seen TSA bulletins to their own people warning about COVID fatigue. I suspect HR departments in major organizations are cranking these out and they reflect a growing trend.
It’s why Dems are getting nervous that what used to be their strength in 2020 has become their weakness with Latinos turning on them and younger voters tiring of the endless shutdowns.
It’s why Gov. Polis in Colorado is declaring that the emergency is over and why Biden keeps emphasizing that he’s not going to impose more shutdowns.
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