Two-thirds of voters believe the country is on the wrong track, according to a recent NBC News national poll conducted by Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt and GOP pollster Bill McInturff. The poll found that 65% of registered voters feel the country is on the wrong track, while only 28% believe it is on the right track. This sentiment is seen as a warning sign for Democrats as the country approaches the upcoming election. Horwitt noted that while the wrong track data has improved since September 2022, it is still at a high 65%. Additionally, a significant number of voters, at 66%, feel that their family’s income is falling behind, which further contributes to the negative perception of the country’s direction.
Views on the country’s direction are heavily influenced by party affiliation, with 92% of Republicans believing the country is on the wrong track, while only 36% of Democrats and 70% of independents share that opinion. The pessimism about the country’s direction has also impacted the level of enthusiasm for the upcoming election. While 65% of voters rated themselves as a 10, or very interested in the election, this is a 10-point decrease from the same point in the 2020 election. NBC News polling has consistently shown high rates of voters feeling the country is on the wrong track, particularly since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. This negativity has historically resulted in electoral challenges for the party in power, as seen in previous elections where the incumbent president’s party lost the White House.
Despite the negative sentiment surrounding the country’s direction, Vice President Kamala Harris appears to have an advantage over former President Donald Trump in terms of representing change. When asked which candidate better represents change, 47% of respondents chose Harris, while 38% chose Trump in the poll. This advantage for Harris could be crucial in shaping voter perceptions and ultimately influencing the outcome of the election. The national NBC News poll was conducted from September 13-17 and surveyed 1,000 registered voters, with 870 respondents reached via cellphone. The poll has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
In conclusion, the NBC News national poll highlights the significant proportion of voters who believe the country is on the wrong track, which could pose challenges for Democrats as they approach the upcoming election. The pessimism about the country’s direction is reflective of broader economic concerns, with a majority of voters feeling that their family’s income is falling behind. Party affiliation strongly influences views on the country’s direction, with Republicans being much more likely to believe the country is on the wrong track compared to Democrats and independents. Despite the negative sentiment, Vice President Kamala Harris appears to have an advantage over former President Donald Trump in terms of representing change, which could be a critical factor in shaping voter preferences. As the election draws closer, these findings suggest that the perception of the country’s direction and which candidate is seen as a better agent of change will play a significant role in determining the outcome on Election Day.
