According to the most recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted from May 10 to 13, registered voters in the United States remain divided between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, with both candidates tied at 45%. Surprisingly, this tie has persisted since September of last year, indicating a stalemate in the political landscape for the 2024 election.

The poll highlights the polarization that exists in American society, with citizens aligning themselves strongly with either the Republican or Democratic party. This deep division, fueled by negative partisanship, has played a significant role in maintaining the neck-and-neck race between Biden and Trump.

However, another factor contributing to the lack of a decisive lead for either candidate is the perception of their weaknesses. Biden's approval rating as president has dipped, with 57% of Americans now disapproving of his performance compared to a 38% approval rating. These numbers indicate that no other modern incumbent has been as unfavorably viewed at this stage in their presidency. In addition, Biden lags behind Trump on multiple issues, including the economy, inflation, immigration, crime, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and campus protests.

On the other hand, Trump also faces challenges in capitalizing on his opponent's flaws. His favorability rating stands at 41%, which is on par with Biden's 39%. Additionally, 55% and 57% of Americans hold unfavorable opinions of Trump and Biden, respectively. Trump's ongoing legal troubles further hamper his image, with a majority of Americans now believing that he falsified business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star.

Despite the economic improvements under Biden's presidency, such as low joblessness, decreased inflation, and increased financial activity, Americans are not buying into his attempts to take credit. Only 29% believe that Biden inherited a struggling economy and turned it around to become the "envy of the world." Furthermore, only 35% agree that wages have consistently risen under Biden's administration while inflation has dropped.

Similarly, Trump's messages also lack crossover appeal. Only 45% of Americans agree with his characterization of the US as a "Third World country" at its borders and elections. Moreover, 45% agree with his claim that there was no inflation during his presidency, which fact-checkers have debunked as false.

The poll suggests that both candidates have struggled to effectively exploit their opponent's weaknesses, as their respective messages have encountered resistance within their own support bases. Biden's economic message fails to resonate strongly with his supporters, while Trump's messaging lacks broad appeal beyond his base.

Moving forward, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will shape the 2024 election landscape. Trump's previous unsuccessful presidential bids and the persistent tie in the polls indicate challenges in expanding his vote share. Meanwhile, Biden's underwhelming approval ratings and perception of weakness on key issues pose hurdles for his campaign.

The Yahoo News/YouGov survey, conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,794 US adults, provides insights into the current state of the race for the upcoming election. However, with the margin of error at approximately 2.7%, it is important to consider a broader range of data and trends as the election cycle unfolds.