The most recent developments in the Trump-Harris political contest vary based on different sources.
Following a series of notable news events that garnered attention from various political standpoints, such as the presidential debate and the initial attempt on Donald Trump's life, this week's data reveals a stark contrast in what Republicans and Democrats are remembering about the Republican nominee. The GOP supporters primarily focused on the Florida incident where Trump's life was under threat, while Democrats continued to discuss his unfounded assertions concerning Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
In recent surveys—conducted between September 20-23 by SSRS and Verasight, on behalf of a research team from CNN, Georgetown University, and the University of Michigan—75% of Americans reported being informed about Trump's activities, surpassing the 69% who mentioned Harris. This change in numbers was not witnessed during late August and early September, when both figures were nearly equal.
Republicans were substantially more inclined to mention the term "assassination" and related phrases connected to the incident, such as references to the golf course where the attempt took place.
One respondent put it this way, "Donald Trump has been campaigning, and it's turning increasingly hazardous for him. He underwent another attempt on his life at a golf course recently."
Democrats, on the other hand, tended to refer to the September presidential debate, employing words like "lie" and recalling Trump's false claims about immigrants in Ohio feeding on local pets. This is what another respondent wrote, "He keeps promoting the Springfield story about Haitian immigrants feasting on local pets. He continually employs anti-Semitic tropes and spreads falsehoods regarding his debate performance."
Independents, as the survey revealed, discussed both sets of topics, with Americans from all corners of the political spectrum being close to equal in their likelihood to use words indicative of the presidential race, such as "campaign" or "election."
The disparity between Democrats and Republicans may potentially stem from the media sources they are consuming. However, it could also reflect the specific news stories that resonate more with each group and the manner in which they describe these stories, often reflecting their personal political views.
When asked about Harris, Americans frequently used words related to her debate performance and her expressed desire for a rematch against Trump, in addition to her interview with Oprah Winfrey. The tone behind the words Americans used to describe what they had heard about Harris remained more positive than the words they used concerning news about Trump. However, the difference in sentiments regarding both candidates narrowed significantly compared to last week, following the debate. Harris' sentiments were slightly more negative than positive, and her score was near where it was prior to the debate, while Trump's sentiments remained in the negative territory.
In the ongoing political discourse, the events surrounding Donald Trump's life threat at a golf course have become a focal point among Republican supporters, with many referring to it as an increasing danger in his campaign. On the contrary, Democrats continue to bring up Trump's false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, highlighting his use of divisive language.
