A Boon for the Democratic Ticket?

Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, has seen a significant rise in her favorability ratings since being announced as Joe Biden's running mate. This positive shift in public opinion could be a crucial factor in the upcoming election, particularly among key voter groups that Democrats need to mobilize.

Several recent polls have shown a marked increase in Harris's favorability ratings. The ABC/Ipsos poll, for instance, found that 43% of Americans view her positively, compared to 42% who view her negatively. This is the first time in years that a major poll has shown more Americans viewing her favorably than unfavorably.

The Wall Street Journal poll also showed a significant improvement in Harris's favorability, with the percentage of respondents who view her "very favorably" more than doubling from 15% to 35% in just one month. Similarly, the Fox polls showed Harris's favorable rating improving on Biden's by an average of 11 points among independents, women, voters under 35, and people of color.

These positive trends are also reflected in the New York Times/Siena College poll, which found that Harris's favorability ratings have improved on Biden's by six points with non-college Whites, nine points with Black voters, 11 points with independents, 12 points with women, and 30 points with voters under 30.

The Times/Siena poll also revealed that Harris appears to be making the Democratic ticket more appealing to less-reliable voters who might otherwise defect from the party or sit out the election. While only 74% of Biden 2020 voters liked him, 88% of Biden 2020 voters liked Harris. Additionally, the poll showed that Harris is viewed favorably by about twice as many people who didn't vote in 2020 and who currently support a candidate besides her, Donald Trump, or Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

These findings suggest that Harris could not only help to stem the bleeding of Biden's support but also appeal to less-likely voters and win back some voters who went for left-leaning third-party candidates in the previous election.

It is important to note that these are early polls, and Harris's honeymoon period may not last. However, the current trend is undoubtedly positive for the Democratic ticket, particularly as they seek to mobilize key voter groups in the upcoming election.