Vice President Kamala Harris may have been seen as holding her own in the recent debate against former President Donald Trump, but she struggled to sway undecided voters, who remain pivotal in the tight 2024 presidential race. Despite the high-stakes nature of the debate, a group of undecided voters interviewed after the event expressed disappointment, saying Harris’s performance left them unconvinced about her policies, particularly on the economy.
According to a Reuters interview with ten undecided voters, six said they were now leaning towards voting for Trump, citing his track record on economic issues during his presidency. Three said they would support Harris, while one voter remained unsure.
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO UPDATEDuring the Presidential debate, fact-checkers at ABC News stated that Donald Trump's claims of the Haitian immigrants "eating dogs and cats" had no credible reports according to the town's city manager.
Over the last 2 days, I've… pic.twitter.com/qhxc6O2pVW
— Tyler Oliveira (@tyleraloevera) September 11, 2024
These results, although from a small sample, highlight the challenge Harris faces in persuading those crucial swing voters who are still on the fence ahead of the November 2024 election.
The economy remains a critical concern for many voters, and Harris’s perceived vagueness on the issue was a recurring criticism. Several voters remarked that while Harris attacked Trump’s record, she failed to provide enough details on how she would address the rising cost of living and other economic issues. “I still don’t know what she is for,” said one voter, Mark Kadish, a Florida entrepreneur who was hoping for more concrete policy proposals from the vice president.
“Now she wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison."
– Donald Trump on Kamala Harris during the presidential debate pic.twitter.com/K31GDQPBoe
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 11, 2024
Robert Wheeler, a security firm executive from Nevada, echoed this sentiment, saying he had been leaning towards Harris before the debate but changed his mind afterward. "I felt like the whole debate was Kamala Harris telling me why not to vote for Donald Trump instead of why she's the right candidate," Wheeler said. His dissatisfaction reflected a broader frustration that Harris spent too much time criticizing Trump without laying out her own vision.
In contrast, Trump, despite not being widely liked on a personal level, won points for his perceived success with the economy during his term. Voters pointed to their improved financial situations under his leadership from 2017 to 2021, despite criticisms of his handling of other issues. Trump’s stance on issues like trade tariffs, while controversial among economists, resonated with several voters who believed these policies could bring economic benefits.
While Harris did highlight some policy specifics, such as tax relief for small businesses and families, it was not enough for many undecided voters. Some felt she did not differentiate herself enough from President Biden’s administration, which they blame for the current economic struggles.
For instance, one voter from Pennsylvania expressed her frustration, saying, “I’m looking for something specific, not just hype us up,” underscoring the demand for clarity on policies.
