Kamala Harris is trying, but let’s be real—her campaign is falling flat, and Americans are noticing. Her recent border visit and speech about the economy were supposed to get people talking, but it seems the only chatter is about how much she’s promising and how little people believe her. As September closed out, data from The Breakthrough showed that fewer people are paying attention to Harris, and when they do, they’re not saying great things. It’s almost as if she’s disappearing from the radar, and when she does pop up, well, it’s not exactly with glowing reviews.
According to the latest polling, Americans hearing anything about Harris has been dropping since her debate with former President Trump back in early September. And here’s the kicker…the tone of the comments has taken a nosedive, hitting a new low for her campaign. People are starting to see through the act, and “lie” is creeping its way into the conversation. That’s right, “lie” has jumped up as a word associated with Harris, sitting comfortably in the top five, alongside “border,” “polls,” and “campaign.” Not exactly a winning combo.
In fact, “lie” is now the fourth most mentioned word about her, jumping from sixth place just last week. It wasn’t even a blip on the radar before the Democratic convention, but now, people are increasingly linking Harris with dishonesty. It’s no wonder her campaign is struggling to pick up steam. The truth catches up to you eventually, even if you’re trying to avoid it with flashy speeches and photo ops.
Now, let’s talk numbers. In the latest data, just 6% of Americans mentioned something about Harris being a liar. Sure, that might seem small, but it’s double what it was before the Democratic convention, and it keeps growing. Meanwhile, 15% of people are talking about her handling of immigration, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly going to win her any fans. The economy? That got a mention from 13%, but the damage is done. Harris’s words don’t seem to be resonating with the voters, and as one survey respondent put it, she’s “full of promises, all of which are lies.” Ouch.
Harris’s border visit and economic speech were supposed to be the highlight reel for her campaign, focusing on immigration and the economy. But instead, they’re just reinforcing the idea that she’s all talk. This was the first time two policy issues actually made it into the top five words people associate with her, but instead of boosting her image, they’ve raised even more skepticism. People aren’t buying what she’s selling.
Of course, the media tried to paint a prettier picture, as usual. One respondent praised her for being articulate and supposedly offering concrete solutions, but that’s not the majority sentiment. While some in the media will praise Harris for being a “contrast” to Trump, it’s clear that the real contrast is in how Americans are reacting to both candidates. For Trump, the narrative seems to be shifting.
While Harris’s numbers are tanking, Trump’s sentiment has actually improved a bit, especially after a post-debate dip. Despite assassination attempts and relentless negative media coverage, his overall standing among Republicans remains strong, with even independents and Democrats slightly softening their tone toward him. Meanwhile, Harris is losing ground, and the shift in sentiment is happening across party lines—yes, even Democrats are growing tired of her empty promises.
Another interesting takeaway is how few people are even paying attention to Harris compared to Trump. In the latest poll, 64% of Americans said they’d seen or heard something about Harris, while 68% said the same about Trump. That’s the fourth straight week where Trump has been more in the public eye than Harris. This trend isn’t new, but it’s telling. Despite all her efforts, Harris simply isn’t commanding the attention she needs to stay competitive. Even worse, people are becoming less interested in what she has to say, and that’s never a good sign for a candidate hoping to win the presidency.
In comparison to previous election cycles, this campaign season is quieter. Blame it on debate timing, if you want. Back in 2020, more than 80% of Americans were following Trump and Biden’s campaigns at this point. Now, we’re seeing lower numbers, but that doesn’t mean voters aren’t paying attention. They’re just tuning out the noise—especially when it’s coming from Harris’s corner.