If Australians could vote in the US Presidential Election, almost a third would vote for Republican nominee and former president, Donald Trump.
This finding comes from the Guardian Essential poll, surveying 1,137 people across Australia last week. Respondents were asked about their thoughts ahead of the US Presidential Election in November this year, as well as how they see Australian politics and security.
About 36 per cent of respondents said they felt “favourable” towards Donald Trump, and 29 per cent said they would vote for the Republican nominee if they could vote in the election.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was endorsed by President Joe Biden to be selected as the Democrat nominee, has higher favourability than Trump. About 48 per cent said they felt favourable towards Harris, and 37 per cent said they would vote for her if they could.
Almost 20 per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t vote in the US Presidential Election even if they could, and 15 per cent would choose a third candidate.
Polling in the US shows Trump is slightly the more favourable candidate for the presidency than Harris, but since President Joe Biden bowed out of the presidential race last week, Harris’ favourability has increased significantly. One national Ipsos poll for US ABC News showed Harris’ net favourability surged from -11 to +1, even before Biden’s announcement.
No other candidate from the Democrat party has challenged Vice President Harris for the party nomination to run for president. The official selection of a Democrat nominee will be held virtually on August 1.
In Australian politics, Guardian Essential polling found Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approval rate increased by three percentage points to 43 per cent, slightly higher than Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s 42 per cent.
However, Albanese has a higher disapproval rating than his opposition, with 47 per cent, compared to Dutton’s 41 per cent.
‘Manipulated lies’
In the meantime, Kamala Harris’ campaign continues to make ground, as the US Presidential Election is less than 100 days away.
In just one week, the Vice President’s campaign raised $200 million USD ($305 million AUD) and recruited 170,000 new volunteers. Two thirds of the donations were from new donors, according to Harris’ deputy campaign manager, Rob Flaherty.
However, as support for Harris is ramping up, so too are racist and sexist attacks from her opponents.
Amid horrifying, misogynistic and racist online content, a fake video has been circulating on social media that appears to be a campaign advertisement from Kamala Harris, but has a manipulated voice over.
The fake Harris in the voice over says: “I was selected because I am the ultimate diversity hire – I am both a woman and a person of colour – so if you criticise anything I say, you’re both sexist and racist.”
Billionaire and owner of social media platform X, Elon Musk, reshared this video, writing “This is amazing”, with a laughing emoji. The post has been viewed more than 130 million times.
A spokesperson from Harris’ presidential campaign told Guardian: “The American people want the real freedom, opportunity and security Vice-President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.”