Harris Trump poll/ 2024 election/ economic issues/ AP-NORC poll/ voter sentiment/ taxes/ immigration/ election integrity/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new AP-NORC poll reveals voters are split between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on who can best address key economic issues. While a majority of voters describe the economy as poor, Harris holds a slight edge over Trump on middle-class taxes and housing costs. Trump maintains an advantage on immigration, but voters are divided on essential issues like grocery and gas prices.
Voters Divided on Economic Leadership: Quick Looks
- The AP-NORC poll shows most voters think the economy is poor, with 7 in 10 saying the country is on the wrong track.
- Voters slightly prefer Kamala Harris over Donald Trump on taxes for the middle class and housing costs.
- Trump’s strongest issue remains immigration, where he holds a consistent lead over Harris.
- Harris has a significant advantage on abortion, climate change, and election integrity, according to voters.
AP Poll: Voters Divided on Economy, Trust Harris Slightly More on Taxes
Deep Look:
With less than a month until Election Day, voters remain deeply divided on whether they trust Kamala Harris or Donald Trump to manage the U.S. economy. According to the latest poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a majority of voters describe the economy as poor, with nearly 70% believing the nation is heading in the wrong direction. Despite these shared concerns, opinions are split on who can best handle key economic issues, including taxes, housing costs, and everyday expenses like groceries and gas.
Harris holds a narrow advantage on certain economic issues, such as middle-class taxes. The poll found that 46% of voters believe Harris would handle taxes better, compared to 35% for Trump. She also has a slight lead on housing costs, but the candidates are nearly tied when it comes to managing the prices of everyday essentials, like groceries and gas. On jobs and unemployment, neither candidate has a distinct edge.
Amber Moody, a 36-year-old from Halifax, Virginia, expressed support for Trump, stating that she trusts Republicans more on economic matters. “In my experience, the economy suffers under Democratic leadership,” she said, highlighting rising prices and national debt as key concerns.
On the other hand, Janice Tosto, a 59-year-old Philadelphia independent, voiced distrust of Trump, stating, “I trust that he’ll give tax cuts to his buddies like Elon Musk,” reflecting skepticism about Trump’s economic policies favoring the wealthy.
Harris Viewed More Favorably
While the economy remains a critical issue, the poll also reveals that Harris is viewed more favorably than Trump. About half of voters hold a positive view of Harris, while 46% see her unfavorably. In contrast, only 40% of voters have a favorable opinion of Trump, and 60% view him unfavorably. Despite these numbers, Trump’s favorability ratings have remained consistent, even following his legal battles, including a felony conviction.
Harris enjoys strong support among Black voters, with three-quarters holding a favorable view of the vice president. Hispanic voters also view her more favorably than Trump, though the margin is narrower. About 60% of Hispanic voters support Harris, while 40% view Trump favorably. Gender differences also play a role, as women tend to favor Harris more than Trump, with about half viewing her positively compared to just one-third who view Trump favorably. Among men, opinions are more evenly split.
Voter Pessimism on the Economy
The poll indicates that voters are pessimistic about the state of the U.S. economy, though there has been a slight improvement compared to previous years. Around half of voters describe the economy as poor, a significant drop from October 2023, when 70% of Americans felt the economy was in bad shape. In 2022, that number was even higher, with nearly 80% describing the economy as poor.
Voters also remain gloomy about the country’s overall direction. About two-thirds believe the U.S. is on the wrong track, a sentiment that has remained fairly consistent for the past three years. However, there has been slight improvement since last year, when about 80% of Americans shared this view.
Jeffrey Trimble, a 62-year-old Democrat from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, expressed optimism about the country’s direction under Harris, stating that the Biden administration has helped restore order after “four years of hell” under Trump.
Younger voters, who typically align with Democrats, are showing signs of disillusionment. Voters under 45 are more pessimistic about the economy than older voters, and they are slightly less likely to trust Harris to manage housing costs or prices of essentials like groceries and gas. However, this does not necessarily translate to increased support for Trump, as many younger voters remain skeptical of both candidates on key economic issues.
Trump’s Lead on Immigration
On non-economic issues, Trump continues to lead on immigration, which remains one of his strongest campaign platforms. Forty-five percent of voters say Trump is better equipped to handle immigration, compared to about 40% who prefer Harris. White voters overwhelmingly trust Trump on immigration, with half supporting him on the issue, while Hispanic voters are split between the two candidates.
Meanwhile, Harris holds clear advantages on other major issues. About half of voters believe she would be better suited to handle abortion policy, climate change, and election integrity. In particular, abortion remains a key issue in Harris’ favor, with about 50% of voters saying she would handle it better than Trump.
Foreign policy is another critical issue this election cycle, particularly with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Neither candidate has a significant lead on foreign affairs, though a majority of Republicans believe Trump is better suited to handle the situation. Notably, only about two-thirds of Democrats think Harris is better equipped to manage Middle East policy, suggesting potential vulnerabilities for her on this front.
Final Push Toward Election Day
With Election Day fast approaching, both Harris and Trump are working to build coalitions that will carry them to victory. While Harris enjoys advantages on taxes, housing, and social issues like abortion, Trump retains a strong following on immigration and among Republicans skeptical of the current administration.
Diana Campbell Williams, a 72-year-old Democrat from Michigan, voiced her trust in Harris when it comes to foreign policy and international relations. “I trust Harris more,” Williams said. “I feel she knows more about what’s going on, and I prefer the type of people she’d be surrounded by after the election.”
As both campaigns intensify their efforts, the race remains closely contested, with the economy and key policy issues shaping voters’ decisions in the final weeks before the election.
