Staff Reports
The honeymoon phase for Vice President Kamala Harris was never meant to last, and a recent New York Times survey confirms that the spark has officially fizzled out. Leading up to the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump has found himself back on top, clashing with Harris in a neck-and-neck race. According to the poll from Siena College, Trump is polling at 48 percent, while Harris isn’t too far behind at 47 percent. That’s not the kind of performance that builds confidence, especially considering she was supposed to be the fresh face of the Democratic ticket following President Biden’s withdrawal.
Despite a somewhat rocky start for Trump amid exiting Democratic enthusiasm, his support has proven to be surprisingly resilient. The Times suggests that voters still retain serious doubts about Harris. Nearly 28 percent of those surveyed admit they need more information about her policies, but it seems three-quarters of voters manage to have an opinion on the man who’s been in and out of the headlines for years. This pattern raises eyebrows when considering the 47 percent of voters who view Harris as too liberal, while a mere 32 percent labeled Trump as too conservative. Soft criticism is still criticism, especially for a figure who is supposedly the rising star of the Democratic Party.
Trump takes lead in NYT pollhttps://t.co/777yS2D5wN
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) September 9, 2024
Following the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Harris garnered a momentary boost in support, the new poll shows that her popularity has dodged the bullet for now, but not for long. While she has managed to hold onto some demographics—particularly women, young voters, and Latino voters—she still lacks the solid grip on Latino voters that Biden had. If anything, this peek behind the curtain of Harris’ campaign reflects a need for a major overhaul rather than a victory lap.
Naturally, if the upcoming election hinges on change, Harris must convince voters that she can actually provide it. A staggering 60 percent of likely voters expressed the opinion that the next president should embody a major shift from Biden’s presidency. However, only 25 percent believe that Harris can deliver that change. In stark contrast, 53 percent of voters see Trump as the candidate who can bring about the needed transformation.
Trump’s dominance persists in discussions surrounding the economy, an area considered to be vitally important to voters. The poll indicated that he holds a remarkable 13-point lead over Harris in this crucial category. With less than two months until Election Day, the race is feverishly tight, bringing good cheer to conservatives while leaving Democrats wondering if their feminist icon is truly capable of standing up to the challenge. If the Democrats want any hope of soaring to victory, they might want to rethink their strategy and give Harris a solid game plan instead of just good vibes heading into November.
