Vance calls Harris' entry into 2024 race a 'sucker punch' as she leads Trump by two points in new poll

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA: JD Vance raised eyebrows after audio from a recent fundraiser revealed his candid thoughts about Vice President Kamala Harris entering the 2024 presidential race.

During an event in Minnesota on Sunday, July 27, the Ohio senator, who was named Donald Trump's running mate, candidly admitted to donors that Harris' candidacy was a "sucker punch" for the Republicans, as per the Washington Post.

Vance said, "All of us were hit with a little bit of a political sucker punch. The bad news is that Kamala Harris does not have the same baggage as Joe Biden, because whatever we might have to say, Kamala is a lot younger."

"And Kamala Harris is obviously not struggling in the same ways that Joe Biden did," added the GOP VP nominee.

Polls reflect Kamala Harris' surging favorability 

The timing of JD Vance's comments coincides with a new poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, which shows Kamala Harris holding a two-point lead over Donald Trump.

This is compounded by another poll from ABC News/Ipsos, which indicated that the vice president's favorability rating among Americans surged to 43 percent in late July, up from 35 percent before Joe Biden's exit. 

Despite these figures, the Ohio senator has publicly maintained a confident stance, asserting that Harris' entry into the race following Biden's unexpected announcement did not affect "the political calculus" for Republicans.

Nevertheless, the internal recognition of the challenge the presumptive Democratic nominee presents is evident from his remarks at the fundraiser.

Vance's campaign has aggressively targeted Harris' record on issues like border control, police funding, and fracking since she entered the race.

"We have a very unique opportunity, but also a very unique challenge, because, let's be honest, 10 days ago, the two candidates who were running for president, everybody had an opinion about 'em," told Vance to the donors. 

He continued, "Love 'em or hate 'em, everybody has an opinion about Donald Trump and Joe Biden after the past eight years... but Kamala Harris, people don't really know."

Polls further indicate Harris is gaining traction among diverse and younger voters. According to the Angus Reid poll, 56 percent of non-White voters support Harris, compared to 25 percent for Trump.

Additionally, 50 percent of Harris' potential voters are under 35, in contrast to Trump's 32 percent. Having said that, the GOP presidential nominee maintains a lead among White voters (51 percent to 37 percent) and older voters (49 percent to 40 percent).

Kamala Harris raises $200 million in first week of presidential bid

The Harris campaign's momentum is also reflected in its fundraising success. This week, it was reported that the campaign raised $200 million since Kamala Harris became the likely Democratic nominee, with 66 percent of contributions coming from first-time donors in this election cycle.

Over 170,000 volunteers have signed up to support the campaign through phone banking, canvassing, and other efforts, just 100 days before Election Day.

Michael Tyler, the campaign's communications director, highlighted the significance of this support in a memo: "The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris is real — and so are the fundamentals of this race: this election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states."

The Harris campaign has been active, holding approximately 2,300 organizing events in battleground states over the weekend. These events featured several high-profile Democrats, including potential running mates, stumping for the vice president.

Notably, Harris campaigned in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, attracting hundreds to a fundraiser originally planned when Biden was still the Democratic frontrunner. The event, initially expected to raise $400,000, ultimately brought in about $1.4 million.

Mandy Robbins, a 45-year-old from Decatur, Georgia, exemplified the enthusiasm of Harris' supporters. After attending an organizing event in Atlanta's northern suburbs, Robbins expressed, "I finally feel hopeful now. We can win this with Harris," while talking to the Associated Press.