With President Joe Biden’s age raising concerns among voters about his chances of reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris is also facing significant doubts regarding her ability to win the presidency or perform well if she were to inherit the role.
Poll Results: Voter Skepticism and Favorability Ratings
A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll reveals that only one-third of voters think Harris would win an election if she became the Democratic nominee. Even among Democrats, only three out of five believe she would prevail, and just a quarter of independents think she would win. Additionally, 42% of voters see Harris as a strong leader, but this view is held by only a third of independents.
Harris’s favorability ratings mirror those of Biden, both underwater: Biden at 43% favorable and 54% unfavorable, and Harris at 42% favorable and 52% unfavorable.
Harris’s Performance and Key Issues
Harris has made strides with critical Democratic constituencies, showing improved performance among Black voters compared to Biden, a shift from the 2020 Democratic nomination race. She has also strengthened her position among Democrats over potential 2028 rivals in hypothetical matchups. Harris performed relatively well on issues like abortion, healthcare, gender inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights but lagged on immigration, relations with China, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Public Perception and Challenges
Despite efforts to reboot after a rocky start, Harris struggles to change public perception about her readiness for the presidency. Forty-eight percent of voters don’t view her as a strong leader, and 46% don’t see her as trustworthy. While she has garnered strong support from Democrats, her appeal is weaker among independents.
Harris has taken on a significant role in protecting abortion rights and bolstering her foreign policy credentials by representing Biden at major summits. However, voters still question her visibility and effectiveness in broader roles.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Prospects
Democratic strategists believe Harris has opportunities to reshape public perception through debates, the convention, and the final campaign stretch. Her role as vice president has positioned her well on key Democratic issues, but she needs to elevate her profile in other areas like foreign policy to gain broader voter confidence.
While Harris leads in hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary matchups, with 41% support among Democratic voters, there is still skepticism about her electability in a general election. Fewer than 60% of Democrats think she would win as the party’s nominee, and overall, only 34% of voters believe she would secure the presidency.
Conclusion
Kamala Harris faces significant challenges in addressing voter concerns about her leadership and electability. Her future prospects are closely tied to the Biden administration’s success and her ability to broaden her appeal beyond core Democratic constituencies. The upcoming campaign period will be crucial for Harris to demonstrate her capability and shift public perception.
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