On Wednesday, Kamala Harris went on ABC's the view and questioned Donald Trump's character in the face of his recent claims that the White House is diverting disaster relief aid to unrelated migrant programs, which have been debunked by FEMA. "I fear that he really lacks empathy on a very basic level to care about the suffering of other people," said Harris, adding that "the role of a leader is not to beat people down, it's to lift people up especially in a time of crisis."
On Thursday, however, a poll by Gallup revealed that voters don't seem to have the same opinion of the former president as Trump has a comfortable lead over Harris when it comes to leadership as a personal quality. Nearly 60% of respondents said the GOP presidential nominee is a strong and decisive leader compared to 48% of voters who said the same about Harris. Roughly 61% of respondents also said Trump "can get things done" compared to 49% who say the Democratic nominee can.
Harris, however, holds an advantage over Trump in voter perceptions of likability, as the poll found she leads Trump 60% to 38% in thar particular trait. The vice president also ranks higher on strong moral character, being honest and trustworthy and caring about the needs of everyday people.
In all, the survey, conducted by Gallup between September 16 and 28, offers a clear distinction in public perception. Harris is credited more for her character, while Trump is seen as a stronger leader, seemingly laying the table dependent on how voters weigh these factors against each other as the 2024 elections fast approach.
Among partisan voters, Democrats overwhelmingly support Harris on personal traits, with 89% to 95% approving of her characteristics. Republicans similarly back Trump, although fewer than 90% rate him as honest, likable, or possessing strong moral character. Independents' views align with national averages, though they are slightly less positive about both candidates in certain areas.
Despite these differences, neither candidate has a significant advantage in areas like managing the government, showing good judgment in crises, having a vision for the country's future, or caring about the needs of people. Both candidates are also viewed similarly in terms of overall presidential competence.
The survey results also show that voters are split evenly on which candidate they agree with on key issues, with 49% aligning with Trump and 47% with Harris. The polling also reveals that 48% of voters view Trump as "too conservative," while 51% consider Harris "too liberal," highlighting the polarized nature of the election.
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