Surprise frontrunner emerges as voters' top VP choice in new poll

In a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) emerged as the frontrunner among potential running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. The poll, conducted on July 26-27, 2024, revealed some interesting insights into the public perception of various Democratic officials rumored to be in contention for the VP slot.

Senator Kelly secured the highest net favorability rating among the potential candidates, with a positive 10-point margin. 22% of respondents viewed him favorably, while only 12% held an unfavorable opinion. However, it's worth noting that a significant portion of voters - 41% - admitted to not knowing Kelly, while 24% expressed no opinion.

Following Kelly, three Democrats tied for second place with positive 4-point net favorability ratings: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Each of these candidates demonstrated varying levels of name recognition, with Buttigieg being the most well-known among them.

Interestingly, the poll revealed that a plurality of voters either don't know or don't hold an opinion on most of the possible VP contenders. This lack of familiarity could present both challenges and opportunities for the Harris campaign as they consider their VP selection.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, while known to a majority of respondents, fared worse in favorability compared to other candidates. He received a negative 12-point rating, with 21% viewing him favorably and 33% unfavorably.

The poll also brought good news for Vice President Harris herself. Her favorability rating increased by 8 points since the previous week's survey, giving her a slight positive edge with 43% viewing her favorably and 42% unfavorably. This improvement puts her ahead of both former President Trump and President Biden in terms of favorability ratings.

As Harris solidifies her position as the party's presumptive nominee, the choice of running mate could play a crucial role in shaping the campaign's strategy and appeal to voters. Political analysts suggest that the selection will need to balance factors such as geographical representation, policy expertise, and the ability to energize key demographic groups.

NOW READ: Melania Trump's ex-friend pours cold water on former First Lady's 'personal milestone'