A new AP-NORC survey has revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris’ potential running mates, including Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Gov. Andy Beshear, remain largely unknown to the public. Among these three candidates, Kelly appeared to have the highest favorability rate among Democratic respondents, with about 45% holding a favorable opinion of the senator. However, about 40% of Democratic respondents admitted they did not know Kelly well enough to form an opinion. Shapiro had about a quarter of Democratic respondents viewing him positively, while the majority of respondents, 60%, said they did not have enough information about him. Beshear also remained largely unknown, with 74% of adults not having formed a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Kentucky governor.
The poll indicates that despite some candidates having higher favorability rates among Democratic respondents, a significant portion of the public remains unfamiliar with them. Shapiro, for example, had 57% of Democrats saying they did not know enough about him to determine whether they favored him as a candidate. Similarly, 60% of respondents stated they did not have enough information about Beshear to form an opinion about him. This lack of awareness poses a challenge for these potential running mates as they seek to gain support and recognition among voters. It is important for Harris and her team to consider this when selecting a running mate who can effectively rally support for their ticket.
Although Harris’ vetting team has met privately with Shapiro and Kelly, the Vice President has yet to make a formal announcement about her running mate. The timing of this decision is crucial, as Harris is set to hold her first campaign event with her vice presidential pick in Philadelphia. This event is expected to take place on Tuesday, leading up to the announcement of her running mate. The poll was conducted from July 25 to 29 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, indicating that the data is recent and reflects the opinions of Americans at that time. Harris will need to carefully weigh the information gathered from this survey as she makes her decision in the coming days.
The findings of the poll suggest that there is a lack of familiarity with potential running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris, such as Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Gov. Andy Beshear. While Kelly had the highest favorability rate among Democratic respondents, a significant portion of respondents did not know him well enough to form an opinion. Shapiro and Beshear also struggled with low name recognition, with the majority of respondents lacking information about them. This poses a challenge for these candidates as they seek to garner support and recognition among the public.
Ultimately, the poll highlights the importance of name recognition and familiarity in the selection of a vice presidential candidate. While some candidates may have higher favorability rates among specific groups, the overall lack of awareness poses a significant obstacle. As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to announce her running mate, she will need to carefully consider the findings of this survey and select a candidate who can effectively connect with voters. The upcoming campaign event in Philadelphia presents an opportunity for Harris to introduce her vice presidential pick to the public and generate excitement for the ticket. By addressing the lack of familiarity with potential running mates, Harris can work towards building a strong coalition of support for the upcoming election.
