A report from The New York Times on Wednesday highlighted that Vice President Kamala Harris struggled to sway undecided voters in her favor, leaving many still uncertain about her differentiation from President Joe Biden.
The report comes in the wake of a debate performance where Harris sought to present her vision ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Undecided voters interviewed by the Times expressed concerns that Harris did not distinguish herself from Biden, a president they felt had not delivered the change they were seeking.
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“She didn’t, kind of, separate herself,” said one undecided voter. “I’m still on the fence.” Another voter in Milwaukee, reflecting on their personal financial struggles, noted, “Trump’s pitch was a little more convincing… When Trump was in office — not going to lie — I was living way better.”
Similarly, voters in Arizona voiced similar sentiments. “Trump had the more commanding presentation,” said one. “There was nothing done by Harris that made me think she’s better. In any way.”
A parallel report from Reuters found that six out of ten undecided voters interviewed after the debate were now leaning toward supporting former President Donald Trump. Many cited their preference for Trump’s handling of the economy during his term and a belief that their financial situations were better when he was in office.
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The economic message resonated deeply with these voters, with one saying, “I still don’t know what [Harris] is for. There was no real meat and bones for her plans.” Several said Harris failed to convince them she would pursue economic policies different from Biden, whom they largely blamed for the current high cost of living.
The findings from The New York Times and Reuters align with a CNN flash poll that showed a growing margin of voters trusting Trump over Harris on the economy. According to the poll, 55% of voters who tuned in trusted Trump to handle the economy better than Harris, who garnered 35%.
ABC’s Rachel Scott also commented after the debate that “Kamala Harris did not do a good job today explaining her policy,” underscoring the challenge she faces in gaining traction with undecided voters.
Read: Op-Ed: The Big Trump-Harris Debate Informed Little, Changed Less
With the 2024 election fast approaching, these reports reflect the growing uncertainty among undecided voters, many of whom appear to be leaning toward Trump due to concerns over the economy and the current administration’s policies.
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