The debate performances of Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts last week served to beat back fears that some Democratic voters have expressed about the electability of a female candidate, eating into one of Vice President Joe Biden's chief advantages in the Democratic primary.
Multiple post-debate polls have shown support for Harris rising following her commanding performance last Thursday, but perhaps the most important change for the top female contenders is their double-digit spike in voters' perceptions that they are electable, according to Huffington Post/YouGov polling. Since May, Warren's "electability" has risen from 40%-51%, while Harris’ has increased from 39%-49%. At the same time, perceptions of Biden's "electability" has fallen by double digits, from 70%-57%. Sen. Bernie Sanders has remained almost flat in the mid-40s by the electability standard, while every other Democratic candidate is stuck in the 20s or lower.
Not every bit of the change is pinned to the debates, given the two-month lag between polls. But bottom line is, attitudes are changing about the electability question that is foremost on the minds of the vast majority of Democratic voters, with Warren and Harris experiencing a surge.