Vice President Kamala Harris’ approval rating has surged to 43 percent, an 8-point increase from a week ago when she declared her candidacy for president, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday. Her disapproval rating dropped from 46 percent to 42 percent.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell by 4 points, from 40 percent to 36 percent, despite a slight uptick following an attempted assassination attempt. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Harris also announced a record-breaking fundraising achievement, raising $200 million in her first week as a candidate. Bloomberg News reported, “Harris’ campaign said 66% of her fundraising tally came from first-time donors.” This impressive haul adds to the $81 million she raised on the first day after President Joe Biden’s exit, which the campaign described as the largest 24-hour fundraising effort by any candidate in history.
“It’s just a whole new vibe to the campaign,” potential Harris VP choice Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. Bloomberg News also reported that Harris has narrowed her list of potential running mates to three candidates: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“Harris is considering a wide range of vice presidential candidates from the Democratic Party’s bench, though people familiar with the process say a short list has emerged including three elected officials with nationwide appeal,” Bloomberg noted.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign confirmed that she has “directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates” but did not provide further details. Harris is expected to make her decision by August 7.
Kamala Harris made history when she was elected as the first female, first African American, and first Asian American vice president. In her role, she has led the Biden administration’s efforts to address the root causes of migration from Central America, overseen the implementation of the American Rescue Plan, and served as a key adviser to President Biden on various domestic and foreign policy issues.
Harris’ rising approval ratings and significant fundraising achievements underscore her strong position in the presidential race, as she continues to build momentum and garner support from a diverse base of donors and voters.