Anderson Cooper Doubts Polls Showing Kamala Harris Ahead: ‘Don’t Know If I Buy Them’

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is having a hard time believing polls that have Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead due to massive underestimations of former President Donald Trump’s support in 2016 and 2020.

Harris has largely experienced a polling surge in recent days and holds an advantage in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

When asked about his thoughts on the race while appearing as a guest on “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” on Thursday, Cooper indicated that he is getting increasingly nervous about the Harris Campaign’s chances.

“I mean, I report on them, I think they are interesting to talk about, and look at, particularly when you dive deep on certain topics,”  he said. “We have some great people that look at polls. But in truth, deep down inside, I don’t think I buy them.”

Kamala Harris has largely enjoyed a bump in the polls since President Biden made the unprecedented decision to suspend his re-election campaign in July, allowing Harris to become the Democratic Party nominee without a single primary vote.

She has also experienced a massive surge in net favorability rating.

Harris had a net favorability rating of -14 points when she entered the race in July, CNN reported on Wednesday. As of September 18, Harris has a +1 favorability rating, compared to former President Trump, who has a -9 favorability rating, the outlet added.

Nate Silver, one of the most accurate presidential election analysts in recent years, has also cautioned that Trump has been historically underestimated by top pollsters.

“People should remember, though, two things,” he said. “One, we have three more months to go. There will be more surprises. And two, the polls have been wrong before. In both the last two general elections they underestimated Trump.”

Check out the entire exchange below:

STEPHEN COLBERT: “One of the big stories out there right now is the polling bump for Harris following the debate. Now, I don’t know whether to trust polls. We were supposed to trust them in 2016 and they were wrong. In 2020, they were pretty wrong.

ANDERSON COOPER: “Trump has traditionally underperformed in these polls.”

COLBERT: “So, how do you approach polls? There’s polling and there’s trends. How do you approach what’s going on in the polling. Do you care?”

COOPER: “I’ve reported them. I think they’re interesting to talk about and look at and particularly when you deep dive on certain subjects like who seems to, you know, what trend line you live in —”

COLBERT: “You’re looking at the crosstabs is what you’re saying?”

COOPER: “Yes. You know, we have some great people who look at polls, but in truth, just deep down inside, I don’t think I buy them. Like, I just don’t. It’s like — I’m sure some are accurate. I’m not casting aspersions.”

COLBERT: “Please start your report like, ‘we’ve got some polls and, frankly, who the f**k knows,’ but we’ll do it, we’ll do it.”

COOPER: “To me, it’s like baby pigeons.”

COLBERT: “What’s baby pigeons?”

COOPER: “It’s baby pigeons. They exist. I haven’t seen them [but] they exist.”

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