Although a new poll suggests Kamala Harris would hold an early advantage in hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups, Republican strategists are dismissing the findings, arguing that the former vice president would actually be the easiest Democratic nominee for the GOP to defeat.

During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerty,” Patrick Allocco, founder of the Zoose Political Index, rejected the results of a new Zogby Analytics survey showing Harris leading Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio by five percentage points in potential 2028 general election contests.

“It looks to me like Zogby may have dusted off his final 2024 presidential poll,” Allocco told host Rob Finnerty, pointing out that the polling firm had also projected Harris ahead of President Donald Trump before the 2024 election.

“It was a big miss then, and it’s a big miss now,” he said. “Our data shows Kamala would actually be the dream matchup for Republicans. The more voters are reminded of the Harris record, the less attractive she becomes as a viable candidate. And she already has a national electoral loss on her resume.”

Finnerty noted that Zogby’s final 2024 polling understated Trump’s eventual margin of victory, suggesting that the latest survey should likewise be treated cautiously.

Pollster Jim McLaughlin, who served on Trump’s 2024 campaign, echoed that assessment and said he would welcome a Harris candidacy in the next presidential election.

“I would love to be able to run against her,” McLaughlin said, arguing that many voters continue to associate Harris with the Biden administration’s handling of border security during the period when she served as the administration’s border czar.

McLaughlin also maintained that numerous public polls during the 2024 campaign overstated Democratic support, while his own polling consistently showed Trump ahead in the key battleground states that ultimately decided the election.

The conversation then turned to the Democratic Party’s future, with Finnerty asking Allocco whether the party, given its internal disagreements over Israel, could nominate a Jewish presidential candidate in 2028.

Allocco responded that such a nominee remains possible, but said the more pressing issue is the party’s lack of a clear direction.

“I think you’ve got such a deeply divided Democratic field right now and a party that doesn’t know who their identity is,” he said. “The one thing you need to focus on is who the progressive standard-bearer is going to be … because they are going to have an influence on the outcome of the nominee.”

The interview also addressed speculation involving Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., after he joined Republican Sen. Dave McCormick in creating a joint fundraising committee.

McLaughlin dismissed suggestions that Fetterman could ultimately become a Republican, arguing that despite occasionally breaking with progressive Democrats—particularly in his support for Israel—the Pennsylvania senator has continued to vote with his party on the overwhelming majority of issues.

{Matzav.com}