CNN Exit Poll Result: Majority of Arizona Voters Unhappy With Economy

Two thirds of Arizonans are unhappy with the US economy, CNN’s early exit polling data indicates, in an ominous sign for Kamala Harris’ campaign.
Some 31 percent of those polled said the economy was the most important issue in this election, with 41 percent viewing it as being in a poor state and a further 25 percent viewing it as “not so good”.
The state has been center stage for two of the hot topics for this year’s election: immigration and abortion. Most Arizonans said that abortion should be legal, according to the exit polling, while over half felt undocumented migrants should be offered a chance at legal status. Both issues are on the ballot.
Arizona shares a vast stretch of border with Mexico and Donald Trump has relentlessly focused on Harris’ role in border security as part of the Biden-Harris administration.
Polling during the campaigning period showed nationwide, bipartisan support for tighter immigration curbs, but CNN’s exit poll showed the issue was third (17 percent) in voter’s list of priorities. Arizonans rated democracy the key issue, at 35 percent, followed by the economy at 31 percent.
The state forms part of the sun belt, alongside Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina – if Trump secures all five and Pennsylvania, he could reach the key 270 votes needed for victory.
If Harris keeps the state blue, it would take some pressure off the need for others in the sunbelt more likely to vote for Trump and push her toward a potentially bigger victory if she wins the rust belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The CNN survey of over 1,800 voters in the battleground saw most of those over age 30 favoring former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Harris saw 66 percent support among those aged 18-30, at least 50 percent of those over that bracket leaned toward Trump.
Democrats and Republicans were divided on the immigration issue, with CNN asking about undocumented migrants getting a shot at legal status versus being deported.
Harris supporters showed 79 percent support for legal status, while 93 percent of Trump supporters were for deportation.
There was a similar split on abortion, with just under 70 percent of Harris supporters believing it should be legal, while 92 percent of Trump voters said it should be illegal.
When it came to democracy, voters mostly felt Arizona’s elections were fair and accurate, with 68 percent feeling confident, but 72 percent said democracy was threatened at the moment.
President Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020 by just 10,000 votes, grabbing 11 Electoral College votes for the Democrats.