As Vice President Kamala Harris approaches the announcement of her running mate, new polling data reveals that many potential candidates are relatively unknown to the American public. Among those being considered, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly emerges with greater name recognition and more favorable ratings, particularly among Democratic voters.
The recent survey, conducted after President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race, underscores the various strengths and weaknesses different candidates may present on the ticket. While Kelly enjoys higher visibility compared to other candidates, nearly half of Americans remain unfamiliar with him. Other front-runners, like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, while less known nationally, may attract strong local support.
Harris confirmed that she has yet to finalize her choice for vice president. However, she and the selected candidate are set to embark on a campaign trail across seven key battleground states next week, which include Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Among the four potential candidates highlighted in the poll—Kelly, Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper—Kelly is noted for having the highest favorability and name recognition. Approximately 30% of American adults view Kelly favorably, contrasting with 20% who hold a negative opinion. This positive sentiment is a noteworthy feat in today’s political landscape, where many candidates struggle to generate favorable views.
Despite Kelly’s advantages, he remains a lesser-known figure overall, with about 50% of Americans lacking a solid opinion about him. Nonetheless, among Democrats, 45% express a favorable view, while only about 10% hold an unfavorable view. Older Democrats tend to view him more favorably, indicating a generational divide in recognition.
Kelly, a decorated Navy veteran, has demonstrated his campaign prowess by flipping the Arizona Senate seat in 2020 and successfully defending it in 2022. He has also been an active participant in critical policy discussions, particularly regarding immigration and border security—an area of concern for Harris that Republicans may leverage.
In comparison, Shapiro remains largely unknown outside the Northeast, with 60% of Americans, including 57% of Democrats, unable to express an opinion about him. About 20% view him favorably, with a similar percentage holding a negative view. His profile is higher in the Northeast, where 40% of adults have a favorable opinion of him.
Shapiro, who won the governorship in 2022 by defeating controversial Republican candidate Doug Mastriano, still has significant room for growth in recognition.
If chosen as a vice presidential candidate, Beshear faces a similar challenge. Approximately 70% of Americans lack a firm opinion about him, although Democrats tend to favor him more positively, with 25% viewing him favorably.
Beshear, who comes from a prominent Democratic family, secured his position against unpopularity in Kentucky’s previous administration and emphasized abortion rights in his successful re-election campaign.
Additionally, Governor Tim Walz, though not included in the recent poll, faces a national visibility challenge with 90% of U.S. adults lacking familiarity with him. His recent surge in prominence is attributed to his clever messaging that critiques the Republican ticket, earning him attention as he leads the Democratic Governors Association.
The polling data was collected from 1,143 adults from July 25-29, 2024, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, reflecting a comprehensive view of public sentiment as the Harris campaign gears up for a pivotal election season.
