Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

What do Canadians really think about Kamala Harris? Results of a just-released poll

Share

Two-thirds of Canadians hold a favourable view of Kamala Harris, and half say they are "hopeful" at the prospect of the Democratic presumptive nominee winning the U.S. presidential election in November, according to an Angus Reid Institute online survey released Wednesday.

Harris performed best with women, particularly those 55 and older as nearly 80 per cent of the demographic said they had a of the U.S. vice-president. She also carried favourable ratings among older men, as males 55 and older are more likely (71 per cent) to have a high opinion of Harris than any other age group under 55, regardless of gender.

How Canadians see Harris may have more to do with how they view her political rival, former U.S. president and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Thirty-five per cent of respondents say they feel "relieved" when they think of Harris, while 76 per cent of Canadians hold an unfavourable view of Trump.

Other words associated with Trump were "worried," "dumbfounded" and "disappointed."

However, not all respondents hold a positive view of Harris. Approximately 40 per cent of men under 55 hold unfavourable views of her, with younger men describing her as "dishonest," "arrogant" or "corrupt."

The survey also revealed that Canadians overwhelmingly believe it's easier for men to get elected to high political office, with 73 per cent saying it's harder for female candidates to get elected, while 22 per cent say gender plays no role.

This conflicts with the survey also reporting that most voters say there's no difference between male and female politicians when it comes to listening to voters, seeking compromise across the aisle, making tough decisions and performing competently.

Harris, who is both Black and South Asian, has faced attacks from the GOP and online when it comes to her race. Trump told the National Association of Black Journalists last month that Harris misled voters about her race and "happened to turn Black," while some Republican members of Congress have called her "a DEI hire," a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

According to the survey, Canadians are split as to whether Harris' race will be an advantage or disadvantage, with 26 per cent saying it gives her an advantage, 21 per cent saying it's a disadvantage and 33 per cent believing it will make no difference. Most of the older Canadians and men under 35 who were surveyed believe it will boost her efforts to win the presidency, while most women under 55 believe it will be an impediment.

Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden announced July 21 he would drop out of the race, endorsing Harris to be his replacement soon after. In the week after the news, the Harris campaign said it raised more than US$200 million in just seven days.

Harris, who was a former U.S. senator for California, as well as the state's attorney general, has Canadian roots, moving to Montreal at age 12 with her mother, who got a job researching breast cancer and teaching at McGill University. Harris attended Westmount High School, an English-language secondary school near downtown Montreal, graduating in 1981.

Methodology

The conducted an online survey from July 31 to Aug. 2, 2024, among a representative randomized sample of 1,609 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Correction

This article has been updated to include the survey methodology.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A Manitoba man convicted of murder 50 years ago has been acquitted. Clarence Woodhouse was found guilty in 1974 of fatally beating and stabbing a restaurant worker in downtown Winnipeg.

An Ontario child has died after coming in contact with a rabid bat, a health official confirmed on Wednesday.

Local Spotlight

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.

On Saturday night at her parents’ home in Delaware, Ont. the Olympic bronze medallist in pole vault welcomed everyone who played a role in getting her to the podium in Paris.

A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. What happened next blew their minds.

A pizza chain in Edmonton claims to have the world's largest deliverable pizza.

Stay Connected