Donald Trump utterly walloped Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He left her in the dust.
And now Kamala Harris looks like an utter fool with egg on her face because of what Trump’s just done to her.
Most Americans Believe Trump Doing Better Job Than Kamala Harris Would Have, Poll Says
The Democratic Party is grappling with a persistent and glaring leadership vacuum, leaving it struggling to connect with Americans on the issues that matter most. CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten recently pointed to a stark reality: despite President Donald Trump’s own challenges with public perception, Americans consistently view him as a stronger leader than Vice President Kamala Harris and the broader Democratic establishment. This sentiment, rooted in public polling, is a bad look for Democrats as they fail to inspire confidence or present a compelling alternative to Trump’s influence.
A CNN/SSRS poll reveals that Trump edges out Harris 45% to 43% when Americans are asked who would be doing a better job as president right now. This narrow but consistent lead points to a deeper issue for Democrats: their inability to resonate with voters on critical issues. Enten emphasized that Trump’s advantage isn’t a fluke but a recurring theme across multiple surveys. “This is the key nugget here. It’s not just about regretting that vote, it’s literally saying who’d be doing the better job right now and Trump continues to score a higher percentage of the vote than Kamala Harris,” Enten said. The data suggests that Democrats are failing to capitalize on Trump’s vulnerabilities, leaving voters to lean toward a familiar, if polarizing, figure.
The leadership gap becomes even more apparent when Trump is pitted against congressional Democrats. A survey by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos shows Trump holding a commanding 8-point lead, 40% to 32%, when Americans are asked who they trust more to handle the nation’s main problems. Enten put it bluntly: “When you match Donald Trump against actual competition, Donald Trump comes out ahead. Look at this! 40% [for Trump], [for] congressional Democrats, 32% … But the bottom line is, when you look at Donald Trump in a vacuum, it’s one thing. But when you actually match him up against folks in the real world, all of a sudden his numbers look considerably better.” This gap, described as a “wide ocean” in today’s polarized politics, signals a Democratic Party struggling to define itself.
The Republican Party, by contrast, is seizing the moment on key voter concerns. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the GOP with a staggering 19-point lead over Democrats on immigration and a 9-point advantage on the economy—issues that dominate public discourse. Enten was struck by the magnitude of these numbers, noting, “The GOP crushes the Democrats, look at that. That’s a 19-point edge. My goodness gracious, you rarely see leads like that in politics.” Democrats’ inability to counter Republican messaging on these fronts further exposes their lack of a cohesive, inspiring leadership vision.
Enten’s analysis serves as a clarion call for Democrats, who seem to be drifting without a clear strategy to regain public trust. He warned that these polling numbers should be a “major wake up call,” urging the party to overhaul its messaging and reconnect with voters. The absence of a dynamic leader to rally the party and articulate a compelling narrative is glaring. Without such a figure, Democrats risk ceding more ground to Trump and the GOP, who continue to dominate the conversation on issues like economic stability and border security.
Public perception of the Democratic Party has reached a historic low, with favorability ratings plummeting to levels not seen in decades. A CNN/SSRS poll from March found that only 29% of Americans view Democrats favorably—the lowest mark since 1992. This erosion of support stems from a growing sense that the party is disconnected from everyday Americans. An ABC News and The Washington Post survey found that 7 in 10 Americans believe Democrats are “out of touch” with the public, compared to 6 in 10 who say the same about Trump. The gap, while not vast, is significant enough to tilt the scales in Trump’s favor.
The Democrats’ leadership crisis is not just a matter of optics; it’s a structural problem that hampers their ability to compete. Without a clear figurehead or a unified message, the party struggles to counter Trump’s outsized presence. The ABC News and The Washington Post survey further revealed that 37% of Americans trust Trump to handle the country’s problems, compared to just 30% who trust Democrats. This persistent distrust underscores the party’s failure to present a viable alternative to Trump’s leadership, even as his own favorability ratings remain lukewarm.
The stakes for Democrats are high as they navigate this leadership void. The party’s inability to articulate a clear vision or rally behind a charismatic leader leaves it vulnerable to further electoral setbacks. Trump, despite his controversies, continues to outperform Democratic figures in head-to-head matchups, largely because voters perceive him as decisive and action-oriented. Democrats, by contrast, appear fragmented and reactive, unable to seize the narrative or inspire confidence.
For Democrats to reverse this tide, they must confront their leadership deficit head-on. The party needs a figure who can unify its factions, sharpen its messaging, and connect with voters on a visceral level. Without such a leader, Democrats risk remaining on the defensive, ceding ground to a Republican Party that, for all its own challenges, is capitalizing on the public’s desire for clarity and strength. The polling data is clear: Americans are looking for direction, and right now, they’re finding it in Trump, not in the Democratic Party.
As the 2024 election fades into memory, the Democratic Party stands at a crossroads. The persistent leadership vacuum threatens to define its future, leaving it struggling to regain relevance in a political landscape dominated by Trump’s enduring appeal. The numbers don’t lie—voters are gravitating toward a figure they see as capable, even if flawed, over a party that appears adrift.
Continue to get hot Washington, D.C. news right here on the Conservative Column.
