Kamala Harris Sees Polling Boost During DNC

Vice President Kamala Harris has extended her lead over former President Donald Trump among registered voters, according to new polling data released during the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The Angus Reid Institute, a non-profit research organization, conducted a survey on August 19 to August 23 as the Democratic Party formally nominated Harris as its presidential candidate.
The national poll reveals a growing generational and demographic divide in voter preferences. Harris holds a substantial lead among 18- to 34-year-olds, with 59 percent favoring Harris compared to 30 percent for Trump. This advantage is even more pronounced among Black voters, where Harris leads 67 percent to 16 percent, and Hispanic voters, where she maintains a 57 percent to 33 percent edge.
However, Trump continues to perform well with older and white voters. The former president is the preferred choice for 49 percent of voters over 54, compared to 40 percent for Harris. Among white voters, Trump leads 51 percent to 39 percent.
The Harris campaign’s effective use of social media has contributed to what analysts describe as an “extended honeymoon period” for the candidate. Memes and viral content have helped generate enthusiasm, particularly among younger voters. Yet this strategy also presents a challenge: translating online engagement into actual votes in November.
Newsweek contacted the Harris and Trump campaign via email on Saturday afternoon for comment.
While youth voter turnout reached a record high in 2020, it still only surpassed 50 percent, significantly lower than the participation rates of older age groups.
The Angus Reid survey also highlights potential hurdles facing Harris as she seeks to become the first woman elected to the presidency. A striking 74 percent of respondents believe it is more difficult for a woman to be elected to high political office, despite 59 percent saying there is “no difference” between genders in competently performing the job once in office.
The poll also delved into voters’ emotional responses to the candidates. Notably, 71 percent of Harris supporters say her potential victory makes them “hopeful,” while 63 percent of Trump supporters express the same sentiment about a possible second term for the former president.
However, the prospect of the opposing candidate winning elicits worry and fear from both camps, with Trump supporters expressing slightly higher levels of concern (57 percent worry, 38 percent fear) compared to Harris backers (47 percent worry, 45 precent fear).
When asked to describe the candidates, voters most frequently characterized Harris as “dishonest” (36 percent), “strong” (36 precent), “corrupt” (32 percent), “inspiring” (31 percent), and “strategic” (29 percent). Trump, on the other hand, was primarily described as “arrogant” (62 percent), a “bully” (48 percent), “corrupt” (45 percent), “dishonest” (45 precent), and “strong” (38 percent).
The Angus Reid survey identified the cost of living as the top issue facing the United States, with 58 percent of voters citing it as their primary concern. This was followed by the economy more broadly (28 percent), border security (27 percent), healthcare (25 percent) and reproductive rights (23 precent).
A newly released national poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and Braun Research finds Harris leading Trump by a 7-point margin. The poll of 801 registered voters conducted between August 17 and 20 shows 50 percent of voters support Harris while 43 percent support Trump. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Broken down by party, 95 percent of surveyed Democrats, 38 percent of independents, and 2 percent of Republicans back Harris. A third of independents, 33 percent, back Trump, while 95 percent of Republicans and 3 percent of Democrats support him.
Contrary to the FDU poll’s findings, a Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday found Trump leading Harris by 3 percentage points, 49 to 46 percent. The survey of 1,893 likely voters was conducted on August 15 and between August 18 and 21. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Most national aggregate polls place Harris at the top of the race, with RealClearPolitics showing Harris up by 1.5 percentage points, 48.4 percent to Trump’s 46.9 percent, and The New York Times aggregate showing Harris with a 2-percentage point lead, 49 to 47 percent. Other aggregates show larger margins, such as FiveThirtyEight, which finds Harris up by 3.6 percentage points, 47.2 to 43.6 percent. Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin also shows Harris leading, putting her at 48 percent and Trump at 43.7 percent.
The race has been further complicated by the recent withdrawal of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had been drawing about 5 percent in national polls. Kennedy officially dropped out on Friday and endorsed Trump.
As the campaign enters its post-convention phase, both candidates face significant challenges. For Harris, the task will be to maintain her momentum and translate her current polling advantage into Electoral College votes. Trump, meanwhile, must work to broaden his appeal beyond his base and address the concerns of swing voters who may be wary of a second Trump term.
With just over two months until Election Day, the race remains highly competitive as the campaigns continue to narrow their focuses on the crucial swing states.
While Harris appears to have received a convention bounce, the true test will come in the weeks ahead as voters begin to engage more deeply with the candidates and their policies. As always in American presidential politics, it’s likely to be a hard-fought contest right up until November.