Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris is experiencing a rollercoaster of public opinion that makes the Biden presidency look positively charismatic by comparison. Thanks to Harris and her legendary acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, President Joe Biden’s net favorability has slyly ticked up four points, landing him at a still unimpressive -6. Who knew that pairing Biden with Harris could prompt some voters to think, “Well, I guess he’s not that bad after all”?
Despite this brief uptick, the Democrats appear to be playing a losing game. While both Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have seen their approval ratings nudge up, Republicans proudly hold an eight-point advantage over their Democratic counterparts. This is telling, especially since the public clearly views the GOP as the stronger party on one of the foremost issues: the economy. In a country filled with economic discontent—reflected by a troubling -29 net satisfaction score about the nation’s direction—democratic optimism is steering straight into a tailspin.
Most striking aspect of Joe Biden’s DNC speech, beyond the nonstop yelling, were the numerous times he said “Kamala and I” when discussing his administration’s record —something she’s desperately trying to distance herself from. The discomfort in her and Walz’s face was obvious. pic.twitter.com/xJ70eq1vNA
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) August 20, 2024
In a dazzling display of political gymnastics, Harris is feebly trying to take credit for Biden’s legislative victories while dodging the blame for his lackluster popularity. This charade might seem easier now, as she prepares for her first joint event with Biden, basking in the fleeting glow of post-DNC approval. But the stark reality remains: voters aren’t buying what they’re selling. Instead, they prefer to see how the Republicans would fare on issues that matter most to them, like their wallets.
The electoral winds are decidedly unfriendly in critical battleground states. Just when Harris enjoyed an edge in Minnesota, Trump’s popularity sliced that lead down to size, demonstrating that the “honeymoon” phase of her tenure might be ending faster than a vote counting process on Election Day. A mere five-point dip in under a month is enough to make any campaign strategist cringe.
And as if that weren’t enough, Michigan serves another heaping plate of bad news for Harris, who had held a lead there until her post-DNC collapse. Trump’s ascendance in the state spells doom for her ambitions, with reported support for him jumping to 47% while she hovers just behind at 46%. It seems the vice president’s golden moment is fizzling out fast, and perhaps even her most devoted fans are beginning to remember why “Harris” and the word “popularity” aren’t synonymous.
