Kamala Harris sees surge in popularity as presidential candidate

Vice President Kamala Harris has experienced a notable increase in her popularity since announcing her candidacy for the presidency. Initially, she had a net favorability rating of -14 points, which improved to -3 points within a month of her campaign launch. As of September 18, she achieved a positive net favorability rating of +1, indicating that more people view her favorably than unfavorably. This shift in perception is significant, especially considering her previous unpopularity as vice president. CNN data reporter Harry Enten expressed surprise at this dramatic change, noting that Harris's initial ratings were closely aligned with President Biden's. However, as she has campaigned independently, her ratings have improved, making her the only candidate among her peers to reach positive territory. Furthermore, Harris is polling better against former President Trump than a generic Democratic candidate, leading by three points in national popular vote polls. Despite this positive trend, Enten cautioned that Harris remains in a precarious position regarding her chances of winning the Electoral College. If she wins the popular vote by two to three points, her chances of securing the Electoral College would be only 53%. If her margin is less than two points, her chances drop to 23%. This indicates that while her campaign is gaining traction, the electoral landscape remains challenging. Overall, Harris's rise in popularity reflects her ability to connect with voters as she establishes her identity as a candidate. However, the economic climate and electoral dynamics could still pose significant hurdles as she moves forward in her campaign.