A new poll suggests Americans maintain minimal confidence in the leadership capabilities of Vice President Kamala Harris, and view her as unqualified to take over the responsibilities of the president.
The Rasmussen poll released on Monday found 41 percent of respondents view Harris as “not at all qualified” to be president, and nine percent of respondents said Harris is “not very qualified.” 1,000 likely voters were polled.
"How qualified is Kamala Harris to assume the responsibilities of the presidency?"
1000 National Likely Voters
Not Very(NV) + Not At All(NAA) = Not Qualified
Democrats: NV 5% + NAA 13% = 18%
Unaffiliated: 12% + 48% = 60% 👈
Republicans: 10% + 64% = 74%
All Voters: 9% + 41% = 50% https://t.co/Twf6RYTdMh— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) April 26, 2021
Among Republicans, 74 percent polled said Harris is unqualified to be commander-in-chief. Independents also showed distrust in the vice president’s abilities to potentially step up to the plate, with 48 percent saying Harris is “not at all qualified” and 12 percent saying Harris is “not very qualified.” A slimmer number of Democrats said the same — with 18 percent saying she is unqualified and 15 percent saying she is “not at all qualified.”
Harris scored high marks with three demographics: blacks, individuals under 40, and elites making $200,000 or more a year; 62 percent of blacks, 64 percent of those under 40, and 54 percent of the high-earners view Harris as favorable. On the flip-side, 55 percent of those 65 and older held an unfavorable view of Harris, in addition to 42 percent of white voters, and a majority of middle-income voters.
The survey asked the following questions:
- Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of Kamala Harris?
- In the Biden administration, will Kamala Harris play as important a role as Mike Pence played in the Trump administration?
- How qualified is Kamala Harris to assume the responsibilities of the presidency?
Interestingly, a Rasmussen poll last August found that 59 percent of voters, as well as 49 percent of Democrats, did not think President Biden would serve a full four years if elected. Biden, 78, is the oldest president to assume office in U.S. history.
