In a poll that should have been a victory lap for Kamala Harris, it turns out she’s barely managed a shuffle. According to the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll, the Vice President’s big moment at the Democratic National Convention did absolutely nothing to boost her popularity. Yep, you heard that right—no bump, no surge, not even a blip on the radar.
ABC’s own Gary Langer didn’t mince words, noting that Harris’s matchup against former President Donald Trump is still a dead heat, just as it was before her grand nomination. So much for the convention fanfare, huh?
The poll, conducted online from August 23-27, surveyed 2,496 adults in both English and Spanish. The results? A tight 50-46 split in favor of Harris. But wait, there’s more! Among those who are actually likely to vote, Harris edges out Trump by a whopping 52-46. Don’t strain yourself with the excitement.
Interestingly, the poll shows that more people are breathing a sigh of relief now that Biden isn’t on the ticket. A majority, 53 percent, are still grumbling about the Harris-Trump showdown, but that’s a far cry from the whopping 71 percent who were dissatisfied when Biden was still in the running. It seems like Harris is doing better than Biden—at least among those who lean left—but it’s hardly a landslide of enthusiasm.
When it comes to the issues, Trump still holds the upper hand where it counts: the economy, inflation, immigration, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Harris, on the other hand, is winning over hearts and minds with race relations, abortion, and health care. As for crime and safety, the two are neck and neck, because apparently, neither has managed to stand out.
So, while the Democrats might want to pop the champagne, this poll suggests they might want to keep it on ice for now. Harris isn’t exactly setting the world on fire, and in a race this close, it’s anybody’s guess who’ll be left standing after the dust settles.
