Staff Reports
A thrilling political rollercoaster is unfolding as the 2024 presidential race intensifies, this time with Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up to replace the flailing President Joe Biden. Speculation buzzes about whether the former commander-in-chief, Donald Trump, can charm the notoriously fickle young voter demographic. A host of polls reveals a uniquely promising portrait for Trump, particularly among those aged 18-34, traditionally a bastion of Democratic support. With Biden sidelined, the real question is whether Harris can muster their enthusiasm, which at the moment looks as likely as a snowstorm in July.
According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, Trump edges ahead of Harris in a hypothetical matchup, leading by a slim margin of 49-47 percent. When adding in third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump still maintains his lead at 45-41 percent, with RFK siphoning off 6 percent of the vote. But hold onto your hats because the numbers reflect a new reality that has Democrats biting their nails. The poll shows Trump boasting a staggering 58-39 percent lead among young voters. Yes, you heard that right! Close to a 20-point advantage over Harris in a demographic that’s supposed to favor her and her party’s agenda.
Here's How Trump Is Doing With Young Voters Against Kamala Harrishttps://t.co/JftXMRrBza
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 24, 2024
Even more shocking are the details surrounding the candidate’s favorability ratings. While Trump’s numbers are awash in mixed reviews, he manages a net positive rating from young voters, with 47 percent viewing him favorably compared to 40 percent with a less-than-glowing opinion. Harris, on the other hand, is staring down a net negative rating of 14 percent among all voters and a jaw-dropping 55 percent unfavorable rating among her supposed youthful base. The kicker? Many of these young voters haven’t even heard enough about her to form an opinion—24 percent would rather plead ignorance than take a stance in her favor.
The Democratic Party must be feeling the heat because Harris appears not to be a magic wand to rally the millennials and Gen Z voters. Even as the Democrat machine cranks up its efforts, these young voters seem to view Harris as yesterday’s news. For the left, this is the political equivalent of going to the fridge for a snack only to find it empty—dismal and disappointing. Poll-watchers have dubbed the situation as the “dramatic reset” for the Democrats, but the numbers suggest they’re just spinning their wheels.
To add a cherry on top, Biden’s approval ratings were already sinking faster than a lead balloon, with a dismal -19 percent net favorability among voters. As if that wasn’t enough, just 21 percent of young voters have anything nice to say about him. So, despite the party’s insistence that Harris could be the ticket to rejuvenate the youth vote, it looks more and more like an act of desperation—and possibly an outright flop.
While Democrats might cling to their hopes of a Harris surge, the reality is undeniable: Young voters are leaning toward the former president like moths to a flame. Unless Harris can switch gears and quickly reshape her image, she might find the 2024 election turning out to be a one-horse race—one paved in red and full of opportunity for Trump.
