Staff Reports
A recently released poll from a national pollster known for its left-leaning tendencies has contradicted its own track record by indicating that former President Donald Trump holds a slim lead over Vice President Kamala Harris if the election were held today. This unexpected twist comes on the heels of a second assassination attempt against Trump, which has, surprisingly, fueled an upswing in his support. It appears that even the most ardent anti-Trump outlets can’t keep the tide from rising in his favor.
Quinnipiac, notorious for dismissing conservative pollsters like Rasmussen, now finds itself showing Trump at 48% among likely voters, just edging out Harris, who sits at 47%. The Green Party’s Jill Stein and Libertarian Chase Oliver each secured a measly 1%, with 3% of voters still undecided. This is a remarkable turnaround from last month when Harris was boasting a 49% to 47% lead over Trump. It raises the question: can the left’s relentless attempts to vilify Trump finally be backfiring?
JUST IN: Trump Takes National Lead In Major Poll That Historically Favors Democratshttps://t.co/HNNWPNIkY1
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) September 26, 2024
When it comes to enthusiasm, the poll reveals that both Trump and Harris command a relatively equal level of passion among their supporters, with Trump at a slight edge at 71% compared to Harris’s 70%. Nevertheless, neither candidate is winning any popularity contests. Harris is viewed favorably by only 47% of voters, and Trump isn’t faring much better with a measly 47% favorable rating, while both candidates grapple with unfavorability ratings that go above 50%. Yet, in a delightful nugget of optimistic polling, a solid 49% of respondents believe Trump truly cares about the needs of people like them, compared to the murky sentiments surrounding Harris.
Key issues heading into the fall election season include immigration and the economy, which continue to resonate strongly with voters. While Harris garners the majority of her support for issues like nuclear weapons and gun control, it’s clear that voters perceive Trump as more trustworthy when it comes to handling crises. Interestingly, more than half of respondents — 51% — feel Trump would handle a major crisis better, a nod to his leadership during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The importance of a potential second debate between Trump and Harris cannot be overstated, with two-thirds of voters expressing a desire to see more of the two in front of a national audience. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of respondents are voicing concern regarding politically motivated violence — a worry that has spiked following the recent assassination attempt against Trump. This concern only amplifies the growing discomfort surrounding Harris and President Biden, who have disparagingly labeled Trump as a “threat to democracy.” Not to help the situation, Biden’s Commerce Secretary has suggested voters should “extinguish” Trump for good, further fueling backlash against this alarming sentiment.
Quinnipiac’s latest findings are mirrored by an earlier New York Times/Siena College poll, indicating that swing voters in critical states like Arizona, North Carolina, and Georgia are shifting away from Harris. In Arizona, Trump now leads by 5% after lagging behind just a month prior. Similar trends can be observed in Georgia and North Carolina where, just weeks ago, Harris relied on small leads that are now reversed. With a sample size nearing 2,700 voters taken after the shocking assassination attempt, public sentiment seems to be moving back toward Trump, suggesting his resilience — much to the left’s chagrin — continues to tantalize and mystify.
