Vice President Kamala Harris is receiving growing support and improved favorability ratings from Democrats and Americans overall as she heads into the Democratic National Convention. A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 48% of U.S. adults have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris, up from 39% earlier in the summer.
Comparatively, Harris now enjoys more favorable ratings than both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, with 38% and 41% of adults viewing them favorably, respectively. The rise in Harris’s favorability is attributed to more Americans forming opinions about her, with the percentage of those who expressed a lack of knowledge about her halving from 12% to 6%.
Harris’s favorability has increased slightly among Democrats, independents, women, and young adults under 30 since June. However, there hasn’t been significant movement among Black and Hispanic adults, key voter demographics for Harris. Approximately half of adults under 30 now have a favorable view of Harris, with a decrease in the number of those who are undecided about her.
Harris continues to maintain high levels of favorability among Black adults, with around two-thirds viewing her positively, and approximately 4 in 10 holding a “very favorable” opinion of her. However, Harris faces challenges with some demographics, particularly with about half of men and 6 in 10 white men having a negative view of her. On the other hand, white women, especially those with a college degree, tend to view her more favorably.
The latest poll captures the sentiments of voters like Brian Mowrer, a 64-year-old retired Republican from Wisconsin, who now plans to vote for Harris in November to prevent further conservative appointments to the Supreme Court and safeguard access to abortion. Mowrer believes Harris presents well, is authentic, and aligns with the policies he deems necessary.
Overall, Harris’s rising favorability and increased voter support indicate a positive trend for her campaign as she navigates the upcoming election.