She is too much for them.
A recent poll conducted by The New York Times in collaboration with Siena College reveals that Vice President Kamala Harris is perceived as “too liberal or progressive” by a higher percentage of voters compared to those who view former President Donald Trump as “too conservative.” The survey shows Trump holding a slim lead over Harris, with 48% of support compared to Harris’s 47%. This tight margin suggests that Harris’s recent boost in popularity, following her ascension to the Democratic ticket after President Biden’s withdrawal, might be diminishing as the election nears its final stages.
According to the poll, Trump is not widely seen as excessively extreme on the political spectrum, with only about one-third of voters labeling him as “too conservative.” In contrast, almost 44% of respondents consider Harris “too liberal and progressive,” while 42% believe she is not overly extreme in either direction. This perception might be giving Trump an edge as a relatively more centrist option.
The New York Times points out that Trump’s perceived centrism could be a hidden advantage. Despite his contentious positions and conservative beliefs, Trump has taken stances on several issues that might resonate with more moderate or Democratic viewpoints, such as his opposition to cuts in entitlement programs and his positions on trade and Russia. Additionally, the poll reveals that 11% of voters think Trump is “not conservative enough,” whereas 9% of voters feel Harris is “not liberal or progressive enough.”
These findings align with previous results from late July, where Trump also led Harris by a narrow margin of 48-47 following Biden’s exit from the race. Furthermore, the poll shows that 28% of voters feel they need more information about Harris before deciding to support her, compared to just 9% who have similar doubts about Trump. Harris has maintained a low media profile and has not held an official press conference since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee nearly 50 days ago.
