Warning signs for Democrats as America appears to be heading for close presidential rematch

Two polls on Sunday showed Joe Biden trailing Donald Trump as concerns over the economy and splits within the Democratic party over the Israel-Hamas war drag down the US president’s 2024 re-election prospects.

A New York Times/Siena poll found Biden was behind Trump in five of the six most important battleground states, fuelled by doubts about his handling of the economy, questions about his age and discontent on other issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A CBS News poll also showed Trump ahead of Biden a year before the 2024 election. The poll found more voters thought they would be better off financially if Trump won in 2024, and that Biden had failed to win over Democrats in the way that Trump had convinced Republicans.