- The Washington Times - Monday, July 29, 2024

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona has the highest favorability rating of potential running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, an ABC News/ IPSOS poll shows that Mr. Kelly isn’t the best known Democrat among the potential vice-presidential picks — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are.

Still, Mr. Kelly, a former astronaut, holds the highest favorability rating, with 22% viewing him favorably and 12% viewing him unfavorably. A plurality of 41% said they didn’t know him, and 24% said they had no opinion.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had the next highest favorability rating, with 17% viewing him favorably and 13% unfavorably. He is followed by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, at 13% favorable and 9% unfavorable, and Mr. Buttigieg, at 29% favorable and 25% unfavorable.

Mr. Newsom had the highest unfavorability of the potential picks, with 21% viewing him favorably and 33% viewing him unfavorably.

Ms. Harris herself has seen a rise in favorability — an 8-percentage-point jump from last week. The poll found her rating to be 43% favorable and 42% unfavorable. In the same poll released a week ago, her favorability rating was 35% and her unfavorability rating was 46%.

She is seen as more favorable than her Republican presidential opponent former President Donald Trump, who has a favorability rating of 36% and an unfavorability rating of 52%. She also does better than Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Mr. Trump’s pick for running mate, who has a 24% favorability rating and a 39% unfavorability rating.

With less than 100 days until Election Day, the polls have shown her popularity rising, but some observers said that it may be the “honeymoon phase” of her taking over the pursuit of the Democratic nomination after President Biden dropped out earlier this month.

The poll of 1,200 adults was conducted July 26-27. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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