Americans have been closely following the latest developments in this year's presidential campaign, as indicated by the initial findings of a polling project known as The Breakthrough. Compared to the same point in the 2020 election cycle, more individuals are now reporting being informed about the major candidates.
Key events that have captured public attention include the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, an assassination attempt against Trump, and ongoing discussions regarding Biden's health and electability.
The recent entry of Vice President Kamala Harris into the race has the potential to bring about a significant shift in the Democratic campaign leading up to this year's Democratic convention. As Harris made her campaign debut, the survey data suggests that Americans are more focused on the change in the ticket rather than on Harris herself or her policies, providing an opportunity to shape her image in the minds of voters.
The survey, conducted by SSRS and Verasight on behalf of a research team from Georgetown University and the University of Michigan, involves asking Americans about their exposure to news about presidential candidates each week from Friday through Monday. Initial data from late June through July revealed that approximately 8 in 10 Americans reported hearing or reading something about Biden or Trump on a weekly basis.
This level of engagement surpasses the attention given to the candidates at a similar point four years ago. The comparable levels of interest in Biden and Trump also represent a departure from the 2020 election, during which Trump, as the incumbent, garnered more attention than Biden for most of the campaign.
