Trevor Hunnicutt, James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – President Joe Biden needed a jolt from the good news, after this week’s results in New Jersey/Virginia suggested that Democrats were losing voters. On Friday, Biden finally received a bit of good news.

Three months after the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1 trillion bill on infrastructure to fix the nation’s roads and bridges. The bill was then sent to Biden for his signature.

A massive $1.75 billion climate-spending bill and one that addresses social issues was passed in the House. It is unclear when it will receive a final vote.

The government also reported that over 500,000 new jobs were created last month. This suggests that an economic revival is underway.

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: ) said that its COVID-19 antiviral drug had produced dramatic results. As a result, the stock markets soared.

Biden won the presidency in January. His strong start included passing an economic stimulus package of $2 trillion and rapidly releasing vaccines against COVID-19.

He has delivered vaccines to at least 80% of people and overseen economic growth. Record high closings were achieved by the, Nasdaq and the.

But the White House has watched with concern as Biden’s approval ratings have dropped steadily amid the ongoing pandemic, higher inflation, a chaotic pullout from Afghanistan and months of bickering among Democrats in Congress over the infrastructure and social spending bills.

This week’s alarm rang true when Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, beat Terry McAuliffe to become Virginia’s governor. Virginia was a state Biden won last year by 10 points. New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli by a narrow margin.

In both races, suburban and independent voters who were critical to Biden’s victory gravitated toward the Republicans, a warning sign ahead of next year’s midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake.

“FRUSTRATED WITH ACTION”

A source close to White House stated that the results indicated voters’ disinterest in Democrats.

According to the source, “If voters get frustrated at inaction it is time for us to act more decisively and pass laws.” There is strong agreement across the party about this.

Matt Bennett is vice president at Third Way, an moderate Democratic think tank. He said that it was vital to deliver results so that vulnerable congressional Democrats could show their constituents in the run-up to midterm elections.

“The bickering over details sends a signal that we don’t know how to govern,” Bennett said.

Since August, when the bill passed the Senate with the support of 19 Republicans and 50 Democrats voting for it in the Senate, the White House is eager to see the legislation cleared the House. Because progressives had tied it to the fate of the social-spending package, the bill was put on hold by the House.

The passage of the bill comes at an ideal time for Biden. The current presidential approval tracking poll by Reuters/Ipsos shows that about 48% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s performance, with respondents listing the economy as their top concern.

Priorities USA, a group that supports Democratic candidates, warned in a memo this week that “voters are frustrated, skeptical, and tired — of COVID, of economic hardship, of school closings, of higher prices and stagnant wages, of unaffordable prescription drugs and health care and more.

Guy Cecil, Chairman of Guy Cecil stated: “Without results and effectively communicating those results,” voters would punish the party at power.

But progressives within the party will not be mollified until the House – and then the Senate – pass the $1.75 trillion “Build Back Better” bill, which contains provisions for education, child care and prescription drug pricing, among others.

However, even if the House passes the bill, which isn’t a guarantee, it will still face significant obstacles in Senate.

According to polls, Americans remain unsure if the bill will be beneficial. In a poll released by Emerson (NYSE:) College this week, 39% of respondents thought it will have a negative impact on their lives, while 34% said it will have a positive impact.

Third Way’s Bennett argued that congressional candidates will need ample time to sell the bills’ merits to skeptical constituents.

“Selling big legislation often takes time,” Bennett said. When voters hear the same narrative over what the bill is about, it becomes easier to enjoy it. We will still need most of next year for that to happen before the November midterm elections.