Anderson Cooper questions 2024 polls amid skepticism from past elections

During a recent appearance on 'Late Night with Stephen Colbert,' CNN anchor Anderson Cooper expressed his skepticism regarding the reliability of 2024 election polls. He noted that past elections, specifically in 2016 and 2020, had shown that polls underestimated support for former President Trump. Cooper highlighted that while some polls can be accurate and provide interesting insights, he personally struggles to trust them, likening his doubts to the existence of 'baby pigeons.' Cooper's comments came in response to polling data indicating that Vice President Kamala Harris had gained a slight lead over Trump following a recent presidential debate. A Fox News national poll showed Harris with a two-point advantage, while a USA Today/Suffolk University poll indicated a three-point lead for her in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. Despite some analysts suggesting that Harris performed well in the debate, Cooper pointed out that only a small percentage of debate watchers reported changing their support as a result. This raises questions about the actual impact of the debate on voter sentiment and the overall election outcome. CNN data reporter Harry Enten noted that Harris's favorability rating has improved since she entered the race, moving from -14 points to +1. However, he cautioned that with three months remaining until the election, surprises are likely, and the historical inaccuracies of polls should not be overlooked, especially given their previous underestimation of Trump's support.