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Fact check: “Kamala’s own internal polling never had her ahead not even once” I saw this statement in relation to the 2024 election. Is it correct?

Checked on June 6, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on multiple consistent sources, the statement appears to be accurate. David Plouffe, a senior campaign adviser to Kamala Harris, has explicitly confirmed that their internal polling never showed Harris leading Trump [1]. The campaign's internal surveys consistently showed Harris "way behind" Trump [2] [3], and this remained "mostly static" throughout the campaign period [3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

  • There was a significant discrepancy between internal and public polling, with public polls occasionally showing Harris ahead [1] [2]
  • The campaign team expressed surprise at these public polling results that contradicted their internal data [1]
  • At best, some internal polls showed Harris tied with Trump, but never leading [3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the core claim appears accurate, there are several considerations regarding potential bias:

  • Polling methodology differences: The statement doesn't acknowledge the existence of contradicting public polls, which could suggest selective presentation of data
  • Beneficiaries of this narrative:
  • Trump campaign and supporters benefit from highlighting Harris's polling weakness
  • Public polling organizations might have benefited from showing a closer race to maintain public interest
  • Media organizations benefit from presenting a competitive race narrative

The statement, while technically accurate according to multiple confirmations from David Plouffe, omits the broader context of public polling data and the complexity of campaign polling methodologies.

Want to dive deeper?
What did Kamala Harris's internal polling show during the 2024 presidential campaign?
How accurate were public polls versus internal campaign polls in the 2024 election?
Did Democratic internal polling predict Trump's victory in 2024?
What role did internal polling play in Harris campaign strategy decisions?
How do internal campaign polls differ from public polling in presidential elections?