Trump Better Than Harris at Representing U.S. On World Stage: Swing State Poll

Voters in key battleground states believe former President Donald Trump has a better chance of dealing with America’s most pressing foreign policy priorities, according to new polling by the New York-based Institute for Global Affairs.
The poll, which involved 1,835 respondents surveyed between August 15-19, showcased the differing views Americans hold when it comes to the two candidates’ approach to world affairs. As the battleground states take center stage in the final weeks of the 2024 election, the latest poll deals a blow to the campaign of Vice President Harris.
When asked which of the candidate would “be a strong leader who advances America’s interests internationally,” 52 percent of those polled cast their vote for Harris, compared to 48 percent for Trump.
Among swing state voters, however, the results are flipped, with Trump leading Harris 54 percent to 46 percent in this category.
The Institute for Global Affairs included the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as the Sun Belt states Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada in its tally of swing state results.
The former president’s lead widens on the question of specific foreign policy issues, with 58 percent of swing state voters he is more likely to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza than Harris (41 percent).
Trump is also the more trusted candidate in the swing states when it comes to China, with 58 percent believing he would “respond effectively if China attacks Taiwan,” compared to only 42 percent for the vice president.
When asked who would pursue a foreign policy “which benefits people like you,” 53 percent opted for the former president over Harris (47 percent).
Despite leading Trump nationally on several issues, including the question of which candidate would “improve America’s international reputation,” Harris falls behind Trump on almost every issue among voters in the six swing states.
The only topic in which she garnered a greater share of votes than her opponent was on the question of which candidate is most likely “to send U.S. troops to an unnecessary war,” with 53 percent choosing Harris over Trump (47).
The results represent another blow for Harris in rallying support from those in the coveted battleground states.
The latest New York Times-Siena College poll of likely voters, surveyed between September 17 and 21, Trump has pulled ahead of his rival in Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina.
The former president achieved greater popularity when it came to the specific issues of immigration and the economy, but unsurprisingly fell behind Harris on the abortion question.
When asked about the effects of Donald Trump’s policies, 45 percent of likely voters in the Sunbelt felt they had been “helped” by the former president, while 34 percent believed they had been harmed.
In contrast, Kamala Harris received lower support, with only 37 percent of respondents saying her policies would benefit people like them, and 42 percent expressing concern that they would be negatively impacted if she were elected.
Update 09/24/24 11:27 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional content.
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