Staff Reports
Polls are like a rollercoaster ride—plunging, climbing, and occasionally flipping upside down. If confusion reigns supreme in the land of public opinion lately, that’s just proof that the polling industry is still perfecting its craft. Presidential elections generally boil down to this simple equation: win the independents, win the election. So, where do the candidates stand in this popularity pageant?
A Gallup survey has provided a glimpse into the murky waters of voter sentiment, revealing something interesting. Donald Trump boasts a favorability rating of 46%, with an unfavorability standing at 53%. At first glance, that might seem less than ideal, but here’s the kicker: Kamala Harris is trailing behind with a favorability of 44% and an unfavorability of 54%. Clearly, neither candidate is lighting up the scoreboard, but for Harris, who continues to stumble around her campaign, this data serves as a wake-up call.
While Trump’s favorability numbers are trending positively, Harris’s are drifting flatter than a day-old soda. Trump has enjoyed a five-point boost in favorability, while Harris has experienced a three-point drop since August. The optics are not great for Kamala, especially when focusing on the pivotal independent voters who tend to sway elections. Among independents, Harris’s net favorability is a staggering -25 points, with 60% viewing her unfavorably and only 35% sharing positive sentiments. Meanwhile, Trump is certainly not basking in the limelight either, sitting at a net -9. Still, that’s a gap Harris would undoubtedly trade her running shoes for.
Given the widening gap in favor among independents, Harris’s team is undoubtedly nervously reviewing campaign strategies. Why is this disconnect happening? Harris appears to have become adept at reciting her memorized lines but leaves voters wanting when it comes to substance and specifics. Take her recent public appearances, where she consistently evades real answers. When questioned about the economy, it’s as if she can only regurgitate one monotonous line about her “middle-class upbringing” and then serves the audience a heaping platter of words that ultimately mean nothing.
Kamala Harris bombed with Independents during the debate so her campaign has now staged this meeting with one.
Everything about Kamala is a lie. pic.twitter.com/PjAqGNNkCz
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) September 14, 2024
A recent appearance before college students illustrated the chasm between Harris’s rhetoric and the audience’s expectations. Instead of directly addressing a question regarding an executive order on reparations, she chose to deflect, claiming it was up to Congress. This response deflated her audience entirely, leaving many signaling their disappointment. It seems independence voters, tired of platitudes, want more than insipid talking points; they’re looking for real answers about real issues, something Harris hasn’t yet managed to deliver.
In trying to straddle the line between the radical left and the moderate center, Harris seems to be losing her footing. Independent voters aren’t just watching her—they’re dissecting her failure to engage with their concerns. Ultimately, if she hopes to salvage her campaign, it’s clear: empty words will not win the day. For those still on the fence, choosing between substance and stylish evasiveness, it’s becoming increasingly evident which side they should land on.
