Voters view Kamala Harris more favourably than Donald Trump: AP-NORC poll

The US presidential race has entered a crucial phase with less than two months until election day. After President Joe Biden unexpectedly dropped out from the White House race in July, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in to lead the Democratic campaign. Now leading in several key polls, Harris's popularity is on the rise, making her a strong contender against Republican nominee Donald Trump in the upcoming November 5 election. Her growing momentum is shaping the direction of this closely watched race.

American voters view Harris, the 59-year-old Democratic presidential candidate, more favourably than they did in July, when Biden withdrew from the race, according to the Associated Press-NORC poll. Meanwhile, Trump’s favourability remains steady.

Before Joe Biden's exit, Republican candidate Donald Trump was ahead of the US President in popularity according to several surveys. Most Americans viewed Trump's presidency as a success, while they saw Biden's term as a failure.

The latest poll, however, was conducted before the apparent assassination attempt on Trump at his golf course in Florida on Sunday.

The survey shows that about half of voters have a somewhat or very positive opinion of Harris, while 44% view her somewhat or very negatively. This represents a slight improvement since late July. In comparison, 60% of voters view Trump somewhat or very unfavourably, with about 40% holding a somewhat or very favourable opinion of him.

Trump's favourability has remained stable despite challenges, including a felony conviction, an assassination attempt, and a new opponent in the race. Trump has previously succeeded with low favourability ratings, winning the 2016 election despite widespread unpopularity and nearly winning in 2020 under similar conditions.

The survey also reveals that only about one-third of voters believe either Trump or Harris would "change the country for the better," reflecting uncertainty about both candidates.

There are positive signs for Harris, with more voters believing she would make a good president compared to Trump. Around half of voters think Harris would be a good president, while only 36% say the same about Trump. Additionally, many believe Harris has a better chance of winning the November election, though a significant number of voters believe both candidates are equally likely to win or are unsure.

Independent voters view Harris slightly more favourably than Trump, though many still view both candidates negatively. About 30% of independents feel they don't know enough about Harris to determine if she would make a good president, while only 10% say the same about Trump, suggesting Harris has more room to gain support.

Opinions on Trump are generally more fixed than those on Harris. About 6 in 10 voters believe Trump "will say anything to win the election," compared to about 4 in 10 who think the same of Harris.

Despite Trump’s attempts to portray Harris as a weak candidate, many voters are leaning towards her as the better alternative. The US election is set for November 5, when voters will decide who will succeed Joe Biden. If Harris wins, she will become the first female President of the United States.