The majority of voters say the economy and immigration are their top issues, according to a new YouGov poll. However, one pollster is now questioning the weight these issues will have on a person’s vote: Will a voter choose their candidate based on policy or personality?
The YouGov poll shows 54% of voters say the most important issues to them are inflation, the economy, immigration and government spending. Matters concerning the economy and the border have consistently ranked as top concerns for voters.
During the week of Aug. 12, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are laying out their economic agendas. However, Frank Luntz, a pollster and commentary contributor for Straight Arrow News, told CNBC that from what he is hearing in focus groups, these policies might not be what sways a person’s vote.
“The people who were undecided have all collapsed toward Harris,” Luntz said. “The people who are weak Trump have collapsed toward undecided. It’s a broad shift. The issues and conditions favor former President Donald Trump. He should be winning this election. But the attributes are so much in Harris’ favor that he’s not.”
Other polling out this week focused on the vice presidential picks, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn. According to another YouGov poll, 29% of voters say Vance hurts Trump’s chances of winning the White House, while 24% say Vance helps Trump. The other 47% are unsure or say it makes no difference.
The same poll shows 42% of voters believe Walz will help Harris’ chances of becoming president, while 16% say he hurts her campaign. The remaining 42% were unsure or said it doesn’t matter.
Vance and Walz are set to debate on Oct. 1.
Polls still show that the race is projected to be tight in November. Fox News polling out Thursday, Aug. 15, shows Trump with a one-point edge over Harris. The New York Times shows Harris with a two-point lead over Trump.
With the race this close, the campaign trail is red-hot, as Harris, Walz, Trump and Vance are all vying for Americans’ votes.
