Expectation can influence public perception in a number of ways:
1. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: If a significant number of people believe that Harris will win, it could inspire more people to vote for her, not wanting to waste their vote or desiring to be on the winning side.
2. Media Influence: Media tends to focus more on “front-runners”, providing more coverage, creating even more exposure and name-recognition for Harris.
3. Shaping Opinion: With more people expecting Harris will win, undecided voters could be swayed by the majority opinion and decide to support her.
4. Fundraising Advantages: Donors are often more inclined to fund campaigns that they believe have a good chance of winning.
5. Lowers perceived risk: Voters may feel safer backing someone expected to win as they do not feel they are taking a chance.
However, this should always be taken with a grain of salt. Public opinion and voter expectations can quickly shift in politics and it’s important to remember that polls do not always accurately predict election outcomes.
