What has Kamala done to give her supporters this much confidence?
A recent poll conducted by the Financial Times in collaboration with the University of Michigan Ross School of Business reveals a surprising shift in voter confidence regarding economic leadership. According to the August survey, Vice President Kamala Harris now holds a slight edge over former President Donald Trump when it comes to handling the economy. The poll shows Harris with 42% of the vote, narrowly surpassing Trump, who garnered 41%. This represents the first time since the poll’s inception last year that a Democratic candidate has overtaken a Republican on this crucial issue.
Harris’s advantage stems from a notable increase in her own support rather than any decline in Trump’s popularity, which has remained steady at 41% in recent months. Despite Harris’s lead being marginal and within the poll’s margin of error, her performance marks a significant improvement from President Joe Biden’s results in previous months. Biden’s approval on economic matters was at 35% in July, down from earlier months where it fluctuated between 34% and 37%. Harris’s August numbers show a 7-point boost over Biden’s July figures, highlighting a shift in voter sentiment.
The rise in Harris’s standing appears to be a result of a decrease in voters who expressed a lack of trust in either candidate. In August, 10% of respondents chose to trust neither candidate, a decrease from 18% in July and 17% in June. Conversely, those who remain uncertain about the candidates increased slightly to 5%, up from 4% in July and 3% in June.
Economic issues have always been a critical factor in elections, and historically, Trump has had an edge over Biden in this regard. However, the new poll indicates that voter perceptions are evolving. The survey, conducted from August 1 to 5 with 1,001 participants, carries a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, underscoring the tight nature of the race and the potential for further shifts in voter opinion.