Difficult days lie ahead.

This truncated 109-day presidential battle between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump proved that it can happen here — that a large number of people across the country didn’t find it disqualifying that a candidate is a racist, sexist serial liar. , conspiracy theorist and convicted criminal who wants to punish his political enemies – and I know I’m forgetting some things.

One of the preliminary findings from the 2024 exit polls is how much this election scared us.

When Harris voters were asked how they would feel if Trump were elected, 70% said they would be “afraid,” followed by 24% who said they would be “worried,” 3% “optimistic.” » and 1% enthusiastic.

Trump voters, who were asked the same question, said that if Harris won, 58% would be “scared,” 36% “worried” and 3% “optimistic.” No one said they were “excited.”

Exit polls provide some of the best information we have about the electorate: who voted, what issues were important to them, how they feel about things, and much more. The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research on behalf of a consortium including ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News. The polls cover thousands of voters, some surveyed in person on or before Tuesday with early voters. Telephone interviews were conducted to include voters who used mail-in ballots.

Exit poll results reveal that this election leaves us with a bleak outlook. Some 72% said they were dissatisfied or angry, and 26% were enthusiastic or satisfied with the direction we are heading.

Yes, there was a gender gap between Harris and Trump

The gender gap? It happened. Harris, who would be the nation’s first female president, was supported by 55 percent of women and 43 percent of men, according to exit polls.

Trump supporters were 53% men and 43% women.

Democracy, a major issue for Harris voters, abortion far behind

That abortion was not at the top of the list surprised me. Among Harris voters, 56% said their top issue was “the state of democracy,” followed by abortion at 21%, the economy at 13%, foreign policy at 3% and immigration at 2%.

Saving our democracy was certainly an issue Harris campaigned on.

As Harris said Monday at a rally in Pittsburgh, in the crucial state of Pennsylvania, “And here’s the thing, guys, we’re fighting for a democracy. We are fighting for a democracy. And in a democracy, true leadership includes the leader listening to experts and listening to those who disagree with them. I will listen to those who disagree with me because I do not believe that those who disagree with me are enemies. »

But this 2024 presidential election was the first to take place since women lost the federal right to abortion in the historic 2022 Dobbs decision, and the Harris campaign – and allied groups – have devoted massive resources to make the argument that Harris would protect reproductive rights while Trump would. continue to support efforts to erode them.

Democracy and the economy top concerns for Trump voters

Despite Trump’s consistent focus on immigration – his promise to carry out mass deportations if he became president again and his accusations that migrants are criminals and take “black” jobs – it was not the main question for his supporters, according to exit polls.

For Trump supporters, the “most important issue” was “the state of democracy,” at 35 percent, followed by 31 percent who cited the economy, 14 percent cited abortion, 11 percent cited immigration and 4% foreign policy.

Trump’s constant hammering of inflation — and blaming President Joe Biden and Harris — has had an impact.

Harris, Trump voters split on whether vote was fair

Trump, who continued to deny losing the 2020 election until the end of the campaign, set the stage — along with his allies — to claim victory on Tuesday, regardless of the vote totals. Trump, in the final days of the campaign, spoke of nonexistent election irregularities.

According to exit polls, among Trump voters, 47% said they were “confident” the election would be “fair,” and 52% were unsure.

Among Harris voters, the situation was radically different. Exit polls found that 88% of Harris voters were “confident” the election would be fair, compared to just 11% who said they were “not confident.”

Many voters decided last week

Some of you have known since July 21 – the day Biden dropped his re-election bid and handed the baton to Harris – whether you would vote for Harris or Trump.

Then there are many others who needed this campaign – the speeches, the negative and positive ads, the presidential and vice presidential debate – to help them make a decision.

According to exit polls, in North Carolina, 58% of Harris supporters made up their minds last week. This makes sense because she only had 109 days to make her point. For Trump, who is making his third bid for the presidency, 36% of his supporters made up their minds last week.