Most Americans are feeling strong emotions as the November 5 presidential elections approach, but excitement is not one of them. A new poll from the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) concludes that about 7 in 10 Americans report feeling anxious or nervous about the 2024 presidential campaign, with a similar number expressing interest in it.
Only about one-third say they feel enthusiastic.
The final week of the campaign for the 2024 presidential race is generally accompanied by a widespread sense of uncertainty. The race is tight both nationally and in key states that could determine the election outcome. Recent polls indicate that neither Democrat Kamala Harris nor Republican Donald Trump has a clear advantage.
Meanwhile, the candidates have presented closing arguments that are in stark contrast to each other. Democrat Harris argues that Trump is focused on revenge and personal interests, while Trump referred to Harris at a rally on Sunday night as “an incompetent who has destroyed everything.”
Some voter groups are even more concerned than they were four years ago, despite those elections occurring amid a deadly pandemic.
In 2020, an AP-NORC poll found that about two-thirds of Americans were worried about the elections. However, among supporters of either side, anxiety is somewhat higher. About 8 in 10 Democrats report feeling anxious this cycle, a slight increase from around three-quarters in the last election. About two-thirds of Republicans are concerned, a moderate increase from around 6 in 10 in 2020.
For independents, this feeling has not changed significantly, and they report feeling less anxious than Democrats or Republicans. About half say they feel anxious, a level similar to that in 2020.
Other emotions have intensified compared to past election cycles, including the level of enthusiasm. About one-third of Americans say they feel enthusiastic about the 2024 campaign, up from about one-quarter in 2016. However, the majority of Americans indicate that they are not enthusiastic about this year’s race.
Still, one factor remains constant: the level of disappointment among Americans regarding the campaign. Approximately 7 in 10 Americans describe their emotional state as disappointed, a level similar to that in 2020. However, for these Americans, there is a light at the end of the tunnel: in a few days, the elections will be over. /VOA
