With the election approaching, The Breakthrough, a CNN polling project, found that the public’s attention has shifted towards the candidates’ responses to hurricane season. Former President Donald Trump’s campaign also faced renewed focus on his legal troubles in the wake of a new filing by federal prosecutors. The survey conducted by SSRS and Verasight on behalf of a research team from CNN, Georgetown University, and the University of Michigan, found that the word “hurricane” was the most frequently mentioned word when respondents were asked about Trump, following Hurricane Helene which has caused devastation in the southeastern United States.
Democrats and Republicans were both likely to mention the hurricane when talking about Vice President Kamala Harris, although their perspectives on her response varied. Democrats mentioned Harris working with FEMA to provide assistance and recovery to areas affected by the hurricanes, while Republicans criticized her for allegedly providing insufficient aid. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to mention the hurricane in conjunction with Trump, with Democrats more focused on the January 6 Capitol attack or labeling him as a “liar.”
In the latest data, Americans also mentioned Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Elon Musk appeared onstage with him, and referenced Jack Smith, the special counsel who laid out the government’s case against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Roughly 14% of respondents mentioned words related to Trump’s legal issues, the highest share since early September. On the other hand, around 8% of respondents discussing Harris mentioned words relating to endorsements, particularly from Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney, who both expressed support for her.
The sentiment behind the words used to describe what Americans had heard about Harris was slightly more positive than the words used for Trump. This does not necessarily indicate warmer feelings towards Harris personally, but rather that discussions about her tended to be framed in relatively positive terms and tone. Overall, the tone of responses relating to both candidates was more negative than positive, with the public expressing a mix of opinions and perspectives on the candidates’ responses to hurricane season and legal troubles.
In response to Hurricane Helene, Republicans and Democrats had differing views on the candidates’ responses, with both sides highlighting different aspects of their actions. While Democrats praised Harris for her involvement in aiding affected areas, Republicans criticized her for allegedly not providing sufficient assistance. On the other hand, Democrats were more likely to focus on Trump’s response to the Capitol attack or his perceived dishonesty, while Republicans mentioned the hurricane in conjunction with Trump, along with his legal issues and recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Public sentiment towards both candidates was overall more negative than positive.
