The Curve: Independent and Undecided Voters Eyeing Harris
September 08, 2024.png)
Key Takeaways
- Independent and undecided voters express overwhelming dissatisfaction with Kamala Harris on key issues.
- Economic concerns dominate discussions, with most voters attributing their struggles to Harris's leadership and policies.
- Voter sentiment is heavily negative on political ideology and leadership, often framing Harris as disconnected from average Americans.
Our Methodology
Demographics
Independents, Undecideds
Sample Size
4,500
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
7 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
Independent and undecided voters are discussing Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, with indications toward their voting preferences. Conversations largely focus on key topics like border security, economic issues, and Harris’s leadership qualities. These all shape the electorate's opinion as voters weigh their options in the upcoming election. This analysis synthesizes thematic sentiments, identifying critical voter concerns and their potential impact on Harris's campaign.
Border and Economy Still Reign
Voters prioritize border security and economic issues, with an overwhelmingly negative sentiment toward Harris’s policies and performance. Independents and undecided voters express significant dissatisfaction with her approach to immigration, border policies, and the economy.
Sentiments about Harris’s leadership, integrity, and ability to address national concerns are also negative. Most voters focus on her failures and lack anything to say about potential successes.
.png)
Border Security
Border security issues generate frustration toward Harris and her policies. Voters characterize her as ineffective in curbing illegal immigration and protecting national security. Phrases like “open borders,” “illegal immigrants,” and “crime wave” appear frequently, highlighting fears of lawlessness and inadequate government action. Voters in border states often use first-person accounts, reflecting the personal impact of illegal immigration, amplifying a collective sense of vulnerability.
Many frame Harris as prioritizing the needs of migrants over American citizens. People use terms like "failed leadership" and "incompetent" to describe her role as the administration's "border czar." These critiques are not just political—they often carry emotional weight. Voters feel their security concerns are dismissed by Harris, increasing their ire. Nearly 85% of the conversation is negative, presenting a serious problem for Harris in winning undecided voters.
.png)
Economic Issues
Economic concerns, particularly inflation, are also a focal point in discussions about Harris’s campaign. Voters express fears about rising living costs saying inflation is crushing Americans and destroying the middle class. Many directly attribute inflation and high taxes to Harris’s policies, expressing frustration at her mismanagement. Harris's proposed tax hikes and government spending policies are especially contentious, with criticisms of “empty promises” or “insane government spending.”
Voter sentiment is negative, with 75% of the discussions expressing dissatisfaction. The focus often shifts between personal economic struggles—illustrated through first-person narratives—and broader critiques of Harris’s fiscal leadership. These concerns about economic instability make it clear that Harris faces an uphill battle in convincing critical voters that she can deliver economic improvements.
Ideology and Leadership
Ideology discussions often intersect with broader societal concerns. Many voters question Harris's political stance and policies. They suggests her policies are communist, socialist, or radical. This ideological framing suggests key voter groups fear her policies abandon traditional American values, contributing to voter distrust.
In terms of leadership, many criticize Harris as being part of the political establishment. They view her policies as a continuation of the Biden administration’s unpopular initiatives. Some voters compare her with Donald Trump, often seeing his leadership as a preferable alternative. Sentiment toward Harris’s leadership is largely negative, with many expressing disappointment and frustration with her governance.
.png)
National Security
National security and foreign policy—especially regarding the Israel-Hamas situation—post another problem for Harris. Voters express concern over what they perceive as Harris’s failure to prioritize U.S. interests abroad. They frequently refer to the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy as weak and ineffective.
The withdrawal from Afghanistan and perceived leniency toward terrorist groups further fuel these critiques. People say Democrats have failed strategies, often calling them a national embarrassment.
First-person narratives dominate discussions of national security as voters share their feelings of betrayal and disappointment. This personal connection to the issue highlights its emotional resonance, particularly among those who view Harris as compromising American safety.
.png)
Housing and Economic Stability
Housing affordability is also a cause for discontent. Independents and undecided voters are frustrated over rising property prices and housing shortages. They blame Harris for failing to address these concerns adequately, often tying the housing crisis to broader economic challenges like inflation and government spending. Around 80% of the housing discussion is negative with disappointment in Harris’s economic policies.
There is also a significant focus on illegal immigration’s impact on housing affordability. Many say Harris’s policies prioritize migrants over middle-class citizens. First-person stories of economic hardship and housing struggles provide powerful critiques of her leadership, indicating that these issues resonate deeply with the electorate.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)