Latest Gallup Data Shows Historic Shift In Trump’s Favorability Rating

For the first time in years, more Americans view former President Donald Trump favorably than unfavorably, a result which can’t be said about Vice President Kamala Harris and portends a positive election night for the Republican.

Gallup produced results from its latest survey of Americans indicating that 50% now view the former president in a favorable light compared to 48% who do not. The result is a reversal of his 36% approval rating just before the 2016 election when he shocked the world and defeated Hillary Clinton, who at the time was given a 90% chance by the New York Times of winning the election. The poll of national adults was in the field from October 1st to the 12th, one month after the two met for their only debate and toward the end of a tumultuous general election that has most Americans pessimistic of both candidates compared to historical standards.

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Traditionally, candidates who went on to win the White House enjoyed favorability ratings on Gallup’s “scalometer” closer to 60% or higher. However, this year’s result continues the modern trend of Americans looking negatively on both major party options, but it is also the highest mark Trump has enjoyed in his three campaigns. Thirty-one percent have a very favorable opinion of Trump, followed by 19% who have a moderately favorable opinion. On the opposite end, 37% find Trump extremely unfavorable while 11% find him moderately so. For Harris, those results are a bit worse: 30% have a highly positive opinion of her and 34% have a highly negative view of the veep. Among those feeling more moderate about the Democrat, 18% say they lean positive while 16% say they lean negative.

Before 2016, no modern presidential candidate had unfavorable ratings exceeding 30%, according to Gallup, with the closest being segregationist third-party candidate George Wallace in 1968 at 32%. Trump has surpassed that level for all three of his campaigns, as did Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris today. Add it all up, and negative attitudes among voters about who leads the U.S. are at an all-time high.

In a dogfight, that’s good news for President Trump. With a ceiling of unfavorable ratings among Americans long baked into his public persona, the Republican has nowhere to go but up among undecided voters. He has moved to the middle on a number of economic fronts, promising drastic tax breaks for automobile purchases and the elimination of federal taxes on tipped wages. His pledge to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East crosses partisan lines as well while Harris is struggling to win over pro-Palestinian young voters who have promised to blank the race on their ballots, if they vote at all.

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