Poll: Trump's favorability jumps post-election; plus, front-runners for 2028

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While President-elect Donald Trump's favorability has climbed since the election, Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance are eyed as the favorites to run for the White House in 2028.

Trump's favorability rating climbed to 54% post-election, a six-point increase from his pre-election favorability of 48%, according to a national Emerson College poll surveying 1,000 voters nationwide from Nov. 20 to 22. With a +/- 3% margin of error, the poll also found President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to a four-year low of 36%.

"Trump's favorability varies significantly by gender, race, and age," said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Polling executive director. "Men view Trump most favorably at 61%, compared to 48% of women. White voters view Trump favorably at 59%, Hispanics at 53%, and Black voters at 28%."

Emerson asked voters how surprised they were by the 2024 election results, with 46% surprised and 54% not surprised. Sixty-seven percent of Harris voters were surprised by the results, while 71% of Trump voters were not surprised by his victory.

Republican and Democratic 2028 primary voters were given an open-ended question asking
them to name their preferred 2028 nominee for their party. Harris leads the Democratic field with 37% support, and Vance leads Republicans with 30%.

Behind Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom received 7% support while Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg got 4%, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro both got 3%. Thirty-five percent of Democrats said they are undecided.

Behind Vance, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 5% support while billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy got 3%, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. both got 2%. Fifty-one percent of Republicans said they are undecided.

Emerson found voters' opinions are split on Trump's cabinet selections. Forty-five percent support Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state while 32% oppose, and 47% support Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary while 40% oppose.

Forty percent said they support former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence while 33% oppose, and 41% support Dr. Mehmet Oz for Medicare and Medicaid administrator while 37% oppose.

A plurality of registered voters, 39%, believe there will be another world war, while 26% do not think there will be another and 35% are not sure. Forty-six percent of Harris voters believe another world war is likely, compared to 33% of Trump voters.