WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans’ views of Vice President Kamala Harris have improved markedly in a Â鶹´«Ã½AV poll conducted mostly before the Democratic National Convention began. Harris’ favorable and job approval ratings have been largely buoyed by Democrats’ nearly unanimous positive assessments, but independents’ ratings are also higher.
Americans’ favorable rating of Harris has increased 13 percentage points since June, to 47%, with 93% of Democrats, 41% of independents and 5% of Republicans holding positive opinions of her. The vice president’s job approval rating is also now 47%, up seven points from the previous reading in December 2023. Partisans’ job approval ratings of the vice president are in line with their favorable ratings of her.
Â鶹´«Ã½AV has measured Harris’ favorability in 10 readings since 2019, and her current 47% is second only to the 53% she received in January 2021, shortly after she and President Joe Biden took office. Harris’ job approval rating -- Â鶹´«Ã½AV’s fourth of her vice presidential term -- has ranged from 40% to 49%. The first reading was taken in September 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, when Biden’s approval rating dropped.
The latest findings are from an Aug. 1-20 poll conducted after the 2024 presidential election campaign was upended by Biden’s July 21 announcement that he was ending his bid for a second term. Biden’s endorsement of Harris to take his place and the quick consolidation of Democratic support behind her candidacy rapidly changed the dynamics of the race.
Biden’s Job Approval Rating Up Seven Points
For his part, Biden has seen a seven-point jump in his job approval rating -- to 43% -- since July, when it was at the lowest point of his presidency. While this marks a significant improvement for Biden, his rating remains below the 48% threshold that is the lowest on record at the time of the election for an incumbent who has won a second term.
Democrats’ job approval rating of Biden is up eight points -- to 89% -- in the wake of his withdrawal from the presidential race, a move that many in his party were pushing for after his weak debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump in June. Independents’ approval of Biden is up six points to 37%, while Republicans’ rating is essentially unchanged at 3%.
Favorable Ratings of Biden and Trump Below Harris
While Biden’s job approval rating increased significantly in August, his favorable rating, at 40%, is statistically similar to the 37% June reading. That figure was his lowest point since 2008, when he was still unfamiliar to many Americans. At the same time, Trump’s favorable rating has dipped five points to 41%.
Both men are viewed favorably by more than eight in 10 of their own party faithful, while independents have a slightly more positive opinion of Trump (36%) than of Biden (30%).
The poll included Â鶹´«Ã½AV’s first measurement of opinions about Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance. The current Ohio senator is viewed more unfavorably (48%) than favorably (31%) by U.S. adults, while 20% do not yet have an opinion of him. Republicans have a largely favorable opinion of him (69%), but just 24% of independents do.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, was not announced as Harris’ running mate until after the poll had begun, so he was not included in the favorable list.
Bottom Line
Harris’ unexpected spot atop the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket has sparked an increase in positivity about her, particularly among her own party. Biden’s approval rating has risen in the weeks following his decision to exit the race, most likely because Democrats support his decision. Harris’ nomination acceptance speech tonight and the Sept. 10 debate will be important in determining whether opinions of her improve, stay the same or worsen in the final months of the presidential campaign.
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