Kamala Harris Faces Uphill Battle in 2024 Presidential Race, According to Recent Polls
Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently assumed the role of the Democratic presidential nominee following President Joe Biden's departure from the race, is facing a challenging path to the White House. Recent polls suggest that Harris is trailing behind former President Donald Trump, with a significant gap in support among likely voters.
According to a HarrisX/Forbes poll released on Monday, Trump leads Harris by a substantial margin of 50% to 41% overall and 51% to 40% among likely voters. The poll, which was conducted from July 19 to 21, reflects the current state of the race after Biden's exit. Dritan Nesho, HarrisX CEO and chief pollster, commented on the results, stating, "Kamala Harris starts her 2024 battle behind Trump, who is enjoying a strong post-convention bump and leads her by almost [double] digits in our polling."
Another poll by On Point Politics/SoCal Research also shows Trump with majority support, leading Harris 51% to 43% in one of the first national polls conducted after Biden left the race. Although the poll had a +2 Republican lean in sampling, other data from the survey should concern Democrats. For instance, 24% of respondents said they are more likely to support Trump with Biden out, while only 18% are less likely to do so.
In state-level polling, Harris is also struggling to make headway. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution survey conducted after Biden left the race showed Trump leading Harris, 50.5% to 45.9%. The poll also suggests that Harris is less popular among key demographics that Democrats rely on in the Peach State. Among nonblack minorities (Asians and Hispanics), Trump leads the vice president by 12 points, compared to a more modest 3.8% lead he had with the same demographics against Biden in the same sample.
In New Hampshire, a state that Republicans last won in 2000, polling conducted between July 19 and 21 suggests that they have at least an even shot this year. The New Hampshire Journal poll released on Sunday shows Trump ahead of Harris, albeit marginally, 40.2% to 39.3%.
As Harris attempts to unify the Democratic Party and close the gap with Trump, she will need to address concerns about her ability to connect with voters and appeal to key demographics. With just over 100 days until the election, Harris has her work cut out for her if she hopes to secure a victory in November.
Sources:
nypost.compolitico.comnbcnews.com