The race for the next president of the United States seems to be a tight one and a poll survey raises the question of whether Donald Trump loyalists have turned to Kamala Harris. The polls of likely voters by the New York Times and Siena College were done in three populous Midwestern states, which according to the US Electoral College voting system are considered key to victory for either party. 


Republican candidate Kamala Harris led both poll surveys by an identical 50 per cent to 46 per cent margin in the three states: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, reported AFP.


Harris' apparent lead within the polls' average margin of error of 4.5 points. 


The polls reflect a shift compared to previous surveys where Trump either tied with or slightly led against Democratic President Joe Biden in those states for nearly a year. 


Last month, Biden pulled out of the race and endorsed Harris instead. 


The polling also suggested that voters still prefer Trump on the key issues surrounding the economy and migration. However, Harris scored a 24-point advantage when voters were asked whom they trusted on the question of abortion. 


The Trump fold junked the new polls, questioning their methodology and suggested they were released "with the clear intent and purpose of depressing support for President Trump."


Harris's announcement on Tuesday to pick Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate has appeared to energise Democrats who expressed relief after 81-year-old Biden decided to step down. 


The surge of Harris and Walz has helped in cutting short a rise in support for Trump that followed after the July 13 assassination attempt and the Republicans' successful national convention last month, the report added. 


But according to the Times/Siena polling, Harris has enjoyed an even bigger bump in favourability, up 10 points among registered voters in Pennsylvania in just a month.