Bakari Sellers Dismisses Harris’ Poll Numbers, Urges Focus on Early Voting Trends
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A recent Wall Street Journal poll showing Vice President Kamala Harris’ favorability ratings slipping below Donald Trump’s has been met with skepticism from her campaign team. On Thursday, CNN contributor Bakari Sellers downplayed the significance of the poll during an appearance on OutFront with anchor Erin Burnett, emphasizing that the Harris campaign has moved beyond obsessing over fluctuating polling data.
“I’ve talked to people on the Kamala Harris campaign and one of the things that we’ve done is hopped off the poller-coaster a long time ago, we’ve kind of thrown these polls… out the window,” Sellers said. His remarks came after Burnett pointed out that the Wall Street Journal poll is considered a “gold standard” in political polling.
The latest poll indicates that 53% of registered voters view Harris unfavorably, a 4-point increase since August. Notably, this places Harris’ unfavorability rating 3 points below that of Donald Trump. However, Sellers dismissed these figures, arguing that they do not reflect the true state of the campaign. Instead, he framed the poll as just another data point among many, which the Harris campaign has chosen to overlook.
“But this is the Wall Street Journal poll,” Burnett pressed, emphasizing its credibility. Sellers maintained his stance, suggesting that focusing too heavily on individual polls can be misleading, especially as early voting has already begun across several key states. Fellow CNN contributor and Republican strategist David Urban also weighed in, underscoring the weight of the poll. “This is the Wall Street Journal, Bakari!” Urban reiterated, pushing back on Sellers’ dismissal.
Despite the mounting attention on Harris’ declining favorability, Sellers insisted that the campaign’s focus lies elsewhere. “But nobody is watching that because people started voting three weeks ago,” he said, referring to the early voting process that has already begun in several states. “That’s why this conversation is fascinating because you know what we are watching? We’re watching early voting, we’re watching trends around the country, particularly in these seven states,” he explained.
Sellers acknowledged the value of polling data but emphasized that it is not where the campaign’s attention is centered. “I get it,” he said, regarding the importance placed on polls. However, he continued to stress that the real focus should be on voter turnout and early voting trends. “I encourage people to hop off of that poller-coaster,” Sellers added, suggesting that campaign strategists should prioritize analyzing voting patterns rather than constantly reacting to shifting poll numbers.
He concluded his remarks by reinforcing the significance of actual votes over polling data. “We can talk about polls but for me, votes count, votes matter,” Sellers asserted, highlighting Pennsylvania as one of the critical states where early voting trends could provide a clearer picture of the election’s trajectory.
As the election campaign continues, Sellers’ comments reflect a broader strategy within the Harris camp—one that prioritizes voter turnout and early results over poll fluctuations, particularly as early ballots are already being cast across key battleground states.
