Harris, Trump tied in US election polls as debate nears
3 Min Read
The second presidential debate is approaching, potentially marking a crucial turning point in the outcome of the upcoming elections as polls between Harris and Trump are tied.
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Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, undated. (AFP, AP)
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are tied in the final weeks of the election campaign, according to a national poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College, with Tuesday's presidential debate expected to play a decisive role in determining the outcome.
Trump is ahead by one percentage point over Harris, with a 48%-47% ratio, a survey published Sunday revealed. Given that the difference lies within the survey's three-percentage margin of error, a victory for either candidate is easily attainable.
The polls are also relatively close in key swing states, with Harris narrowly leading in Michigan (50%-49%) and Wisconsin (51%-49%), and both candidates tied in Pennsylvania, a poll conducted by CBS/YouGov revealed Sunday.
Despite the Republican's campaign undergoing a tumultuous period following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race and the endorsement of Harris, the recent polls indicate he continues to have a strong support base.
Polls reveal public opinion on candidates
The presidential debate is expected to potentially mark a crucial turning point in the outcome of the elections, shaping public opinion of the two candidates.
A New York Times poll revealed that voters' opinions on Trump are generally set while feeling the need to learn more about his Democratic counterpart. This is depicted with 28% of likely voters stating they need more information about Harris, a stark contrast to Trump's 9%.
The CBS survey illustrated Harris was seen as the more cognitive and mentally healthy candidate in terms of her ability to serve as president, while Trump 71% of people felt that Trump's recent comments about Harris were insulting.
“As vice-president Harris has said since day one, we are the underdogs in this race. We have a lot of work to do to make sure we win this November, and that will require us to continue aggressively raising money," Harris's election campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a recent email to the nominee's supporters on Sunday.
“The electoral college benefits the Republican ticket. Even in 2020, when the Biden-Harris ticket won more votes than any ticket in history, the election came down to about 45,000 votes across the battleground states. This November, we anticipate margins to be similarly razor-thin. Every single vote will count," she added.
The newly endorsed Democrat nominee will be allotted 90 minutes to detail her planned policies in the upcoming debate with Trump.
