More voters saw Trump as the candidate of change: Exit poll analysis

Claiming superior activity and casting himself arsenic nan existent supplier of alteration were keys to Donald Trump's triumph successful nan statesmanlike election, per ABC News exit canvass results.

He besides prevailed by a wide separator among nan mini group of alleged "double haters" -- voters pinch an unfavorable sentiment of some candidates.

In a database of 4 campaigner qualities, 30% of voters nationally rated "has nan expertise to lead" arsenic astir important to their vote, and astir arsenic many, 28%, chose "can bring needed change." Fewer picked "has bully judgment" (20%) aliases "cares astir group for illustration me" (18%).

Vice President Democratic statesmanlike campaigner Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump.

AP

These choices were intimately tied to campaigner preferences. Among those who cited activity expertise arsenic nan apical campaigner attribute, Trump hit Kamala Harris by 2-1, 66-33%. On bringing astir change, nan spread widened to 3-1, 74-24%.

That immense spread connected alteration reflects Harris' difficulties distancing herself from nan unpopular Biden administration, a move covered successful ABC News/Ipsos pre-election polling. Seventy-four percent of Americans said they wanted Harris, if elected, to return a caller guidance from President Joe Biden's. Only 33% thought she would.

Harris pushed backmost pinch large leads among voters who picked judgement aliases empathy arsenic astir important -- but location were less of them.

Most Important Candidate Qualities

ABC News exit poll

Taken different way, among Trump supporters, 41% chose "can bring needed change" arsenic nan astir important campaigner property successful their ballot and 40% chose leadership, totaling to 8 successful 10 of each his voters.

By contrast, astir six successful 10 Harris supporters chose judgement aliases caring arsenic apical qualities to them. Compared pinch Trump, half arsenic galore cited activity and a 3rd arsenic galore picked nan expertise to bring change.

Top Qualities by Candidate Support

ABC News exit poll

Personal favorability was different factor.

In 2020, Biden was seen favorably by 52%, 6 percent points supra Trump's 46%. This year, Harris ended up rated fundamentally arsenic unfavorably arsenic Trump -- 47-52%, favorable-unfavorable, for Harris, and 46-53% for Trump. (This is simply a alteration from preliminary exit canvass results, successful which Trump was 11 points underwater successful favorability, Harris conscionable 2 points.)

Notably, Trump won nan 8% of voters who rated some candidates unfavorably, by 26 points, 56-30%.

Look besides astatine assessments of really utmost nan candidates' views were: 47% said Harris' views were excessively extreme; 54% said that of Trump. But among those who said some were excessively extreme, again 8% of voters, Trump won by a wide 42 points, 63-21%.