Harris Has Closed the Polling Gap, But Is It a Honeymoon Phase?

Polls have shown Vice President Kamala Harris polling much better against former President Donald Trump than President Biden did, but is the momentum real –- and how long can it last?

Honeymoon Phase: Andrew Prokop of Vox (Left bias) emphasized the new life Harris has breathed into Democratic efforts to win the presidency this fall, but that it’s still a tight race. Prokop noted that election polls don’t always accurately reflect how the Electoral College determines elections and that Harris is currently at the peak of her “honeymoon phase” with voters and the media, which may not endure until November.

Sustainable Momentum?: Douglas E. Schoen and Carly Cooperman in an analysis for The Hill (Center bias) highlighted several notable recent polls that show Harris has tightened the race but questioned how sustainable the improved odds for Democrats will be. The authors also noted that the election is still nearly 100 days away, which they describe as “an eternity in politics.”

Media Hype: Noah Rothman (Lean Right bias) of National Review (Right bias) pointed to the media as being responsible for Harris’s recent surge in ratings and argued that a Trump victory, “once all but assured, is now in doubt,” as Harris has dominated headlines. Rothman warns that the media’s “sacrificing objectivity” as part of its alleged efforts to propel Harris to the presidency could backfire on reporters, as it has before.