Despite having key issues on his side, former President Donald Trump is currently trailing in the 2024 presidential race, admitted Republican pollster Frank Luntz on Sunday. Known for his focus group insights, Luntz appeared on CNN to discuss the recent surge in support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the interview, the host asked Luntz whether the enthusiasm observed in Harris’s campaign was translating into actual voter support. Luntz affirmed this, noting, “It’s more than fair. It’s accurate that the change over the last 17 days has been significant. It’s meaningful and measurable, and it’s being led by younger women who had opted out of this campaign.”
Luntz pointed out that “paycheck-to-paycheck voters” are finding Harris’s campaign relatable, which has contributed to her recent rise in the polls. He contrasted this with Trump’s performance, stating that the former president “has not had two good weeks” since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
“He’s been very negative and very hostile and clearly he’s kind of lost his balance,” Luntz observed. “He absolutely emerged from the convention with a clear and convincing lead, but what has happened? He stopped talking about immigration. He stopped talking about inflation. And instead, he has been so personal with his attacks that voters are starting to recoil.”
According to Luntz, if the campaign were solely issue-based, Trump would still have the advantage. “If this is an issue-based campaign, Trump still has the advantage,” he asserted. However, he acknowledged that Harris “is winning right now,” underscoring the effectiveness of her approach in the current political climate.
Luntz also predicted that Harris is likely to receive a further “bump” from the Democratic convention, driven by her increasing popularity among voters. “People like her more than they like him,” he added. “If he’s watching this right now, his head is exploding and that’s part of the problem.”
Luntz’s analysis highlights the challenges Trump faces as the 2024 campaign progresses, with Harris gaining momentum not just through policy but also by connecting with voters on a personal level. As the race intensifies, Trump’s strategy may need to evolve to recapture the lead he once held, while Harris continues to capitalize on her growing support base.