Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris, who snagged the Democratic nomination in a manner that would make a bureaucrat blush, is currently basking in a small lead against former President Donald Trump as national polls heat up. For those with a southern drawl defining the meaning of “comfort zone,” it’s important to note that this lead doesn’t feel substantial enough to pop the champagne just yet. With ballots approaching faster than a liberal can shout “climate crisis,” the real question is whether voters will wake up and smell the radical policies brewing under Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
In the latest USA Today and Suffolk University poll, Harris struts into the political ring with a supposed 48% to 43% lead over Trump. While that might cause Harris to do a little victory jig in her living room, her supporters need to know that excitement doesn’t always translate to votes. While 68% of Harris supporters reported “very excited” feelings about their candidate, only 60% of Trump supporters expressed the same enthusiasm for the Republican standard-bearer. Perhaps it’s only natural that in a time when Democratic voters are faced with anyone who isn’t Joe Biden, enthusiasm spikes.
Harris doesn't get convention bounce, but widens gap with women: POLL – ABC News — Leads Trump by 4% among registered voters, 50% to 46% and among likely voters by 6%, 52% to 46% but race is tied in swing states. https://t.co/BN1AlTpwsc
— Fernando Oliver, Esq. (@Fernand46357857) September 1, 2024
The enthusiasm craze doesn’t end there. A whopping 87% of Harris’ supporters are convinced she’s got it in the bag, while a slightly less convincing 76% of Trump’s fans think he’ll reclaim the throne. Although Harris has taken the lead in sheer optimism, a closer look at voters’ concerns reveals a different story altogether. When it comes to pressing issues like the economy and immigration, Trump’s support remains robust, registering an impressive 50.6% to Harris’ 44.8% on the economy and 50.2% to 46.5% on immigration. Harris may hold sway on race relations and healthcare, but who is really prioritizing these over their wallets and borders?
And speaking of issues, the USA Today piece squeaked out that Trump’s leads are narrowing, but much of Harris’ support seems less like a victory of her merit and more a byproduct of being the only alternative to a deeply unpopular Biden. With the upcoming debates looming like a black cloud over Harris’ head, her recent interviews tend to raise eyebrows rather than provide clarity. She’s been strangely quiet since Biden’s exit stage left, opting for a new version of “let’s see how this whole silence thing works out.” The debate rules, which are eerily similar to those Trump and Biden previously agreed upon, seem to put her in a sticky situation. Not wanting muted microphones suggests that she’s perhaps a bit apprehensive about presenting her ideas when it comes to her policies.
In a recent CNN interview—a platform that tends to roll out the red carpet for left-leaning figures—Harris didn’t enlighten viewers with much beyond a vague notion of her positions. A quick look at her policy page reveals a deserted wasteland with few initiatives that even remotely reflect original thought. Many of her proposals seem borrowed, and her glaring omissions hint that she’s walking a tightrope with ideas that could easily be branded as leftist drivel. This is especially concerning for her campaign, which already is under the onus of past lackluster performances, most notably her early presidential run that cratered before it even got a chance to take off.
Trump, meanwhile, is likely nurturing a strategy that involves keeping expectations low while waiting for Harris’ inevitable stumble during the debates. If she flops, her poll numbers could fall faster than her pre-campaign enthusiasm. Recent approval ratings show that both Harris and Biden are hanging by a thread with voters, while Trump’s past presidency generates a warmer nostalgia for many. In this race to capture the attention of the electorate, it seems that even the most recent polls can’t hide the instability of the Biden administration’s ratings.
As the clock ticks closer to Election Day, curiosity abounds as to whether Harris can sustain her momentum. The USA Today/Suffolk poll conducted from August 25-28 surveyed 1,000 likely voters, but amid varying margins of error and media spin, truth seekers know to hold off on claiming victory until the voting booth curtains close. While Harris may sprout leads in the polls, one simple fact stands disturbingly clear: Many voters still remain skeptical about aligning with a less popular and radically leftist agenda.
