Staff Reports
The political circus is at it again, and this time, it seems the ringleader isn’t performing quite as well as expected. Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a hit in the popularity polls following the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, leaving many wondering if her candidacy has begun to fizzle like a soda left open too long. According to a recent poll from Redfield & Wilton Strategies, support for Harris is sliding, and the trajectory suggests that her camp might need to call in reinforcements—or perhaps a miracle.
The poll reveals that 44 percent of likely voters prefer Harris over former President Donald Trump, who is trailing closely at 42 percent. With a mere two-point lead, one would think Harris would be bursting with confidence. Sadly, she’s down three points since the last poll, a sign her much-anticipated convention bounce turned into a definitive flop. If the supposed convention of unity really did anything, it seems to have unified Harris with the ‘meh’ crowd.
Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump by 2% nationally.
🇺🇸 Presidential Election Voting Intention (29 August):
Kamala Harris: 44% (-3)
Donald Trump: 42% (-2)
Other: 4% (+4)
Don't Know: 8% (+4)Changes +/- 21 Augusthttps://t.co/WwIDmmNfAX pic.twitter.com/69oc5nXy98
— Redfield & Wilton Strategies (@RedfieldWilton) September 2, 2024
To make matters worse, Trump’s latest legal troubles—an indictment regarding his challenge to the 2020 election—have not stunted his appeal among voters. As Democrats were busy celebrating Harris’s nomination, Trump was quietly capitalizing on the support of newly off-the-campaign-trail Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has officially endorsed him. In fact, Kennedy’s departure from the race seems to have diluted the overall voter sentiment, stoking the flames of an increasing number of undecided respondents.
The rising number of undecided voters is telling. From a mere three percent support for Kennedy, the “undecided” category now boasts eight percent, with lesser-known third-party candidates picking up steam as they quietly absorb disillusioned voters left without a solid candidate. One can almost imagine a third-party rally gaining momentum as folks search for alternatives that don’t lead to a cringe-fest at the DNC.
When examining the race, it’s important to consider how Harris stacks up against Trump, especially compared to the last presidential election cycle. In August 2020, then-candidate Joe Biden comfortably held a ten-point lead over Trump, while today, Harris is struggling to hold even a slim lead over him. The numbers show that Harris is underperforming Biden by five points—a clear indicator that the Democrats’ hopes may be pinned more on ‘wishful thinking’ than on actual momentum.
And what do Americans care about right now? According to the poll, the economy, immigration, and abortion are the top slicing issues. A whopping 62 percent said the economy impacts their vote the most, followed by immigration at 36 percent and abortion at 34 percent. It’s safe to say that in these critical areas, many voters might prefer to put their trust in the Trump camp rather than risk a Harris-led ride through choppy waters. As the campaign season heats up, the battle lines are clearly drawn, and the real question remains: can Harris turn things around, or will she find herself standing in the shadow of Trump’s comeback?
