Harris widens lead over Trump with boost from women: Reuters

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
29 Aug 2024 15:37
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Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump 45% to 41% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday.

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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris talks as she visits SandFly Bar-B-Q in Savannah, Georgia, on August 28, 2024. (AP)

A recent report published by Reuters reveals that Democrat Kamala Harris holds a 45% to 41% lead over Republican Donald Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, indicating a surge in voter enthusiasm and a shift in the race as the November 5 election approaches.

This four-point lead among registered voters marks a significant increase from the narrow 1-point advantage Harris had over Trump in a late July Reuters/Ipsos poll. The latest poll, conducted over eight days ending Wednesday with a two percentage point margin of error, shows Harris gaining notable support, particularly among women and Hispanic voters.

Harris now leads Trump by 49% to 36%—a 13-point margin—among both women and Hispanic voters. In July, across four Reuters/Ipsos polls, Harris held a nine-point lead among women and a six-point lead among Hispanics, indicating her growing support within these key demographics.

These developments underscore how the US presidential race has been dramatically altered over the summer. On July 21, President Joe Biden, 81, suspended his faltering campaign after a disastrous debate performance against Trump, which prompted widespread calls from fellow Democrats for him to withdraw from the race.

Since then, Harris has gained traction against Trump in both national polls and surveys in crucial swing states. While national polls, such as the Reuters/Ipsos survey, offer important insights into voter sentiment, the election's outcome will ultimately hinge on the Electoral College, where state-by-state results will be decisive, with a few battleground states likely to play a pivotal role.

In the seven states where the 2020 election was most competitive—Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada—Trump led Harris 45% to 43% among registered voters in the poll.

Harris raises voter turnout

In the poll, about 73% of registered Democratic voters said they were more enthusiastic about voting in November after Harris joined the race.

Additionally, while a March Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 61% of those planning to vote for Biden were doing so mainly to oppose Trump, the August poll showed that 52% of Harris voters were backing her as a candidate rather than simply to prevent a Trump victory.

"We see it in this poll that people are more motivated about the future than the past," said Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, a liberal group that aims to grow the numbers of women of color in elected office.

"They see Kamala Harris as the future, and Republicans see this election as just about Trump. Voters are more likely to be engaged when given the option of 'more than' beating Trump."

On the other hand, Trump supporters also showed strong enthusiasm, with 64% saying their support was driven more by backing Trump than opposing Harris.