Surge in Kamala Harris’ Approval Rating While Donald Trump’s Dwindle
In an apparent shift in public opinion, Vice-President Kamala Harris has reported a significant rise in approval ratings, while former president Donald Trump’s favorability has taken a plunge, according to a recent poll. The national survey, conducted by ABC News/Ipsos, reveals that Harris’ favorability holds strong at 43 percent, an 8-point surge from her previous rating of 35 percent.
An Overview of the Presidential Race
This increase came promptly after President Joe Biden announced he would not be seeking re-election in the 2024 campaign. On the flip side, the number of people expressing an unfavorable view of the Vice-President saw a decline from 46 percent to 42 percent. As for Trump, his favorability declined by 4 points, slipping from 40 percent to 36 percent between the two consecutive surveys. One such survey followed closely on the heels of Trump’s nomination as the GOP’s candidate for 2024 at the Republican National Convention and a subsequent attempt on his life.
Harris’ rising popularity is reciprocated in the sudden influx of enthusiasm behind her bid for the White House. This elevation was subsequent to Biden’s officially declaring a pause on his re-election campaign, after significant criticism of his performance in a CNN debate, causing him to bow out of the race.
Momentum Behind Harris’ Campaign
This momentum behind the Vice-President is not restricted to polls but extends to her campaign fundraising as well. Her campaign reports a staggering $200 million in its first week, with nearly two-thirds of the donations coming from first-time donors. As Biden’s endorsement propelled Harris as the front-runner for Democratic nomination, several eminent Democratic figures have joined in expressing their support for her candidacy against Trump.
The survey not just outlines an inclination of the Democrats towards Harris (at 88 percent), but also a similar fervor among Black voters (at 70 percent). Furthermore, independent voters’ favorable opinion of Harris has seen a significant rise from 28 percent to 42 percent.
A Dip in Trump’s Ratings
Simultaneously, Trump’s favorable rating among independent voters, which could potentially play a key role in the election, declined from 35 percent to 27 percent. However, Trump’s communications director referred to a different poll by Telegraph/Redfield & Wilton Strategies which implies that Trump might gain an edge over Harris in several swing states.
If Trump comes out victorious in November’s election, he could break records and become the oldest sitting U.S. President during his second term. The previous survey by ABC News/Ipsos had shown that 15 percent of Americans held unfavorable views of both Trump and Biden. However, with Harris now likely to be pitted against Trump, the percentage of Americans expressing a dislike for both candidates has dropped to a mere seven percent.
According to the ABC News/Ipsos survey conducted between July 26-27, which included a sample size of 1,200 U.S. adults, the results hold a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
