Harris Shedding Key Voters In Battleground Pennsylvania

A new poll in Pennsylvania reveals a razor-thin race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with Harris holding a slim 49-47 lead among likely voters, leaving 2 percent backing other candidates and 3 percent still undecided. While the numbers look close, the vice president appears to be losing ground with a crucial demographic: older voters.

The survey, conducted by AARP from September 17 to 24, is the first in Pennsylvania since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race. The poll highlights some intriguing shifts. Back in April, Biden was down five points statewide, trailing by one among voters aged 18-49. Now, Harris is crushing it with younger voters, leading by a whopping 14 points. Among independents, where Biden was losing by six, Harris now holds a nine-point advantage. She’s also outpacing Biden’s performance among Democrats, women, suburbanites, rural voters, and even non-college-educated Americans.

But for all these gains, Harris is struggling mightily with voters 65 and older, trailing Trump by seven points. And the reason? The economy. Among older voters focused on inflation and high prices, Trump enjoys a staggering 54-point lead.

“Harris’ biggest weakness is older voters,” said Republican pollster Bob Ward, whose firm helped conduct the survey. “They make up the largest share of the electorate, and she’s falling behind.”

Democratic pollster Jeffrey Liszt noted that Trump’s perceived strength as a businessman and his branding as an economic leader—boosted by his time on The Apprentice—still resonate. “When people look back at his presidency, his job approval is higher than Harris’. That’s her Achilles’ heel,” Liszt explained.

Indeed, 50 percent of likely voters approve of Trump’s performance as president, compared to 45 percent who approve of Harris as VP. Yet, in terms of personal favorability, Harris fares better, trailing by only three points, while Trump is seven points underwater.

Interestingly, Harris has bolstered support from key Democratic blocs: younger voters, older Black voters, and independents. But Trump’s advantage with older voters, especially women, could tip the balance if he expands those margins.

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign faced another setback during Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, sparred with Senator J.D. Vance in a CBS-moderated faceoff, and the reviews were brutal.

CNN’s Abby Phillip, Dana Bash, and Jake Tapper weren’t impressed. Tapper claimed Vance was the “more experienced debater,” while Bash argued Walz either prepped too little or way too much. “He had so many pre-planned lines that he seemed robotic,” she said. Phillip added, “Vance landed some punches. Walz didn’t counter effectively.”

For now, Harris remains locked in a battle for Pennsylvania, a state critical to securing the White House. But unless her campaign figures out how to woo older voters and shake off the debate missteps, the Keystone State could slip through her fingers.