Democrats are more excited about Vice President Kamala Harris heading into the Democratic National Convention, and her popularity among the general public is steadily rising. A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research indicates that 48 per cent of American respondents think very or somewhat favourably of Harris. This is an increase from 39 per cent at the start of the summer, when President Joe Biden was finally forced to withdraw from the presidential campaign due to his dismal performance in his debate with former President Donald Trump. 

The rise in favorability for Harris comes as more Americans overall have formed an opinion about her while the Harris and Trump campaigns rush to define her nascent candidacy. The percentage of people who say they don’t know enough about her to form an opinion has dropped from 12 per cent in June to 6 per cent at this point.

Probable Strength of Harris

Since June, certain groups that typically already support the Democratic Party have begun to marginally favour Harris. She has observed modest increases in favorability among women, young adults under 30, democrats and independents. Black and Hispanic adults have not made much of an effort. However, Harris will probably require the backing of these two groups in November.

According to the most recent poll, half of respondents under 30 think highly or moderately favourably of Harris, up from 34 per cent in June. This coincides with the fact that more young adults have developed opinions about her, with the proportion of adults who believe they don’t know enough to comment decreasing from approximately 2 in 10 to about 1 in 10. 

While it has been mostly stable over the past month, Harris’s favorability among Black adults is still rather high. Approximately two-thirds of Black Americans think highly or moderately highly of Harris. Approximately 4 out of 10 respondents state that they have a “very favourable” opinion of her. Compared to all Americans, black adults are more likely to think well of Harris. Approximately 60 per cent of non-white men and women think favourably of Harris.

Probable Weakness of Harris

In order to win in November, Harris’ team will have to restrict the amount of vote Trump may gain among male and white voters, who have tended to vote Republican in previous elections. Currently, Harris is viewed negatively by around half of men. Approximately 60 per cent of white men hold a negative opinion of her. White men without a college degree, a group that has traditionally made up Trump’s strong base of support, are especially likely to say they have an unfavourable view. 

However, white women view Harris more favourably, especially those who have completed college. Approximately 60 per cent of white women with college degrees think well of her, compared to 40 per cent of those without. White women’s opinions of her are divided overall, with 49 per cent holding a positive view and 46 per cent a negative one. Views of Harris have been fairly steady among older adults. Approximately 50 per cent of those over 60 think favourably of her, that corresponds roughly to the 46 per cent she had in June with this group.

(with inputs from AP)