Staff Reports
As the countdown to the 2024 presidential election continues, new polling data from Emerson College and The Hill reveals a rather grim outlook for Vice President Kamala Harris, especially in the key battleground state of Ohio. According to the findings, Buckeye State voters have made up their minds and are leaning towards former President Donald Trump. With Trump securing a resounding 54% of the vote compared to Harris’s 42%, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Ohio might be dusting off its red cape once again.
Party loyalty and candidate approval ratings are painting a delightful picture for conservatives in Ohio. A whopping 58% of voters express their discontent with President Biden’s handling of the Oval Office, while only 33% seem to think he’s doing a good job. On the other hand, Ohio’s GOP Governor Mike DeWine doesn’t exactly have the voters singing his praises either, with just 38% approving of his performance. Almost a third, about 29%, couldn’t decide if they liked him or not, but clearly, the days of blind party loyalty are waning.
With the poll revealing that 39% of respondents identify as Republican compared to 31% as Democrats and 30% with no affiliation, the natural red tilt is becoming ever more pronounced. The clear support for Trump, coupled with those favorable Republican identifying numbers, suggests a robust rebranding of Ohio from a swing state to a potential GOP stronghold. As Election Day approaches, a significant number of voters are rallying around the banner of the former president, leaving Harris with a daunting task on her hands.
JUST IN: Final Emerson Poll Shows Trump Up By Whopping Margin In Longtime Swing State….https://t.co/UYHdBvFcic
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) November 4, 2024
Harris’s popularity seems to have hit a snag, with nearly 49% of respondents holding an unfavorable opinion of her — and let’s not forget the cherry on top: 30% view her as “very unfavorable.” Meanwhile, Trump is basking in the warmth of a much more favorable perception, where 54% of voters view him positively. While he isn’t without his critics, with 41% disapproving of him, his net favorability paints a stark contrast to Harris’s floundering support.
Switching gears, the Senate race in Ohio is also heating up, with incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown facing off against Republican Bernie Moreno. The contest is tight but shows Moreno edging ahead with 48% support compared to Brown’s 45%. Interestingly, among the undecided voters, Moreno is flipping the script to his advantage as 60% lean towards him. If that trend continues, Democrats may find themselves with a solid foothold in a party landscape that’s increasingly dominated by red.
As concerns align primarily around the economy, immigration, and healthcare, Ohio voters are also keeping an eye on the so-called “threats to democracy,” which could serve as a double-edged sword for the party in power as the campaign season ramps up. It’s becoming clearer that the once quintessential swing state of Ohio is ditching its politically indifferent past, creating a solid Republican base that might last well beyond the next election cycle. With Trump leading the charge and Ohio voters signaling in favor of conservative policies, Democrats may find it’s time to pack their bags for a long trip to the political backseat.
