A recent survey from Savanta has revealed a surprising shift in public opinion, with President Joe Biden’s net favorability rating increasing by four points despite his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race. This uptick in popularity has come at the expense of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose own approval ratings have been slipping in key swing states.
While Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), have seen some gains in their approval ratings since the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party as a whole still trails Republicans by eight points. Democrats are seen as the more capable party when it comes to managing the economy, a crucial issue for voters. However, the overall mood of the country remains gloomy, with a -29 net satisfaction score with the direction of the US, a three-point decline from the previous poll.
In Minnesota, a critical swing state, Harris’s lead over former President Donald Trump has been cut in half, with her advantage shrinking by five percentage points in less than a month. Pollsters attribute this decline to the end of Harris’s “honeymoon” phase and the fading excitement over Biden’s exit from the 2024 race.
Harris has also suffered a setback in Michigan, where her popularity has dropped, allowing Trump to take the lead. After enjoying a month-long advantage in the state, Harris’s support has plummeted following her DNC speech. In contrast, Trump has seen a surge in support, with 47% of voters indicating they would back him, compared to 46% for Harris.
