Some G-20 Leaders See ‘Virus Bump’ in Their Approval Ratings

(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- Even as cases of Covid-19 rise in their countries, several Group of 20 leaders—including some who’ve been sharply criticized over their response to the outbreak—are enjoying a bump in their approval rating. Political scientists say this “rally-around-the-leader” effect is common in times of emergency. But it isn’t universal: Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil have all lost popularity. 

President Trump has seen a boost in polls, though it’s small compared with those of peers Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron. Will it last until Election Day in November? That’s unclear—crisis-driven bumps fade over time, though no one knows how long this crisis will last.

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