Harvard Harris Poll Debrief with Mark Penn and Bob Cusack

April 2024 Harvard Harris Poll

Episode Summary

President Joe Biden’s overall approval rating is steady at 44%, while Donald Trump leads the horse race by 4 points. Immigration and inflation remain the top two issues for voters.

Episode Notes

President Joe Biden’s overall approval rating is steady at 44%, while Donald Trump leads the horse race by 4 points. Immigration and inflation remain the top two issues for voters. 

ELECTION FUNDAMENTALS SEE LITTLE CHANGE BUT TRUMP LEAD WIDENS

• Immigration and inflation continue to be voters’ top concerns, tied at 35% each this month.
• 55% of voters believe Trump has committed crimes for which he should be convicted, but 55% say separately that they approve of the job he did as president.
• 44% job approval for Biden shows 11-point deficit in job approval compared to Trump at 55%.

AMERICANS PREFER FOCUS ON DOMESTIC RATHER THAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• 59% of voters say this is a time in world affairs that enables the U.S. to focus primarily on domestic issues, rather than spend more on military and foreign affairs (Democrats: 58%; Republicans: 57%; Independents: 63%).
• 58% say the U.S. does not have the leadership necessary to handle world affairs now.
• 56% support sending $26 billion in aid to Israel; 49% support sending $8 billion in aid to the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan; and 48% support sending $61 billion in aid to Ukraine.

GENERATIONAL SCHISM ON ISRAEL REMAINS SALIENT DESPITE GENERAL SUPPORT UNCHANGED

• 80% of voters say they support Israel over Hamas (ages 18-24 57% to 43%)
• 71% say the crisis in Gaza has been created by Hamas, not Israel.
• 78% say Hamas should be removed from running Gaza.
• 72% of voters believe Israel should move forward with an operation in Rafah in order to finish the war against Hamas, while doing its best to avoid civilian casualties (ages 18-24: 57%; ages 65+: 84%).
• 68% oppose a ceasefire unless it means Hamas would be allowed to continue holding hostages and running Gaza (ages 18-24: 66% still support). 70% support a “permanent ceasefire” but that support is contingent on hostage release and end of Hamas rule.
• In the context of the recent Iran attacks against Israel, 80% believe Iran must be stopped from having nuclear weapons (ages 18-24: 43%; ages 65+: 96%).

MOST AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF UNIVERSITIES AMID CAMPUS PROTESTS

• 80% of voters believe students and professors who call for violence towards Jews should be suspended (ages 18-24: 59%; ages 65+: 92%).
• 64% believe the leaders of private higher education institutions are not doing enough to prevent antisemitism (ages 18-24: 37%; ages 65+: 80%).
• 64% believe there is a problem with what institutions of higher learning are teaching students today (ages 18-24: 47%; ages 65+: 74%).