A recent poll suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris is perceived as more politically extreme than former President Donald Trump, according to Fox News.
The New York Times/Sienna College survey, released on September 8, 2024, indicates that a larger portion of voters consider Harris "too liberal or progressive" compared to those who view Trump as "too conservative."
The poll reveals a narrow lead for Trump over Harris, with 48% of voters favoring the former president and 47% supporting the vice president.
This slim margin suggests that Harris's initial boost from replacing President Biden on the Democratic ticket may be waning as the election approaches its final stages.
Nearly half of the surveyed voters, 44%, described Harris as "too liberal and progressive." In contrast, only about one-third of respondents labeled Trump as "too conservative." The poll found that a majority of voters believe Trump is "not too far" to the left or right on key issues.
These findings indicate that Trump may have an advantage in being perceived as more centrist than his opponent. The New York Times reported that this perception is one of Trump's "overlooked advantages" in the race.
Interestingly, the poll also revealed that 11% of voters think Trump is "not conservative enough," while 9% believe Harris is "not liberal or progressive enough." This suggests that both candidates face some criticism from within their respective ideological bases.
The survey highlighted a significant gap in voter familiarity with the candidates. A substantial 28% of voters reported needing more information about Harris before they could support her. In comparison, only 9% said the same about Trump.
This disparity in voter knowledge could be attributed to Harris's limited media engagement since becoming the Democratic nominee. As of the poll's release, Harris had gone 49 days without holding an official press conference, although she did participate in a joint interview with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on CNN.
Trump, on the other hand, has maintained a more visible public presence. His campaign strategy appears to focus on protecting his reputation as a candidate who holds positions that may have been considered more traditionally Democratic in the past, such as opposition to entitlement cuts and skepticism towards free trade agreements.
The New York Times/Sienna College poll was conducted between September 3 and 6, 2024, using telephone surveys with 1,695 registered voters across the country. The results provide a snapshot of voter sentiment as the election enters its final phase.
The poll's findings suggest a tight race between Harris and Trump, with both candidates facing challenges in appealing to centrist voters. Harris's perceived ideological stance may be a hurdle for her campaign, while Trump's ability to position himself as more moderate could be a key factor in maintaining his slight lead.
As the election approaches, both campaigns will likely adjust their strategies to address these voter perceptions. Harris may need to focus on increasing her media presence and clarifying her policy positions to alleviate concerns about her being "too liberal." Trump, meanwhile, may continue to emphasize his more centrist positions on certain issues to maintain his advantage among moderate voters.
