US Presidential Polls 2024: Vice President Kamala Harris has extended her lead over former President Donald Trump, securing a 45% to 41% advantage among registered voters, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday. This four-point lead reflects a boost in the prospects for Harris ahead of the November 5 election that will give the US a new president.
News agency Reuters shared the findings of the Reuters/Ipsos poll in a news report Thursday. The poll, conducted over the course of eight days and concluded on Wednesday, shows a marked improvement for Harris compared to a late July Reuters/Ipsos poll where she held only a one-point lead over Trump. The margin of error for the latest poll is two percentage points.
Demographic Shifts Favour Kamala Harris
Harris's growing support is particularly evident among women and Hispanic voters, where she now leads Trump by 13 percentage points, 49% to 36%, in both demographics. This is a significant increase from July, where Harris led by 9 points among women and 6 points among Hispanic voters.
While Trump continues to lead among white voters and men, his advantage among voters without a college degree has narrowed to 7 points, down from 14 points in July. These shifts point to changing dynamics of the electoral landscape following President Joe Biden's decision to exit the race in July.
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Harris-Trump Presidential Race Still Tight In Battleground States
Despite Harris's national lead, the race remains tight in critical battleground states. In the seven states where the 2020 election was closest — Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada — Trump holds a slight 45% to 43% edge among registered voters. These states could hold the key to the election outcome.
Republican strategist Matt Wolking, who worked on Trump's 2020 campaign, told Reuters that running against Harris poses new challenges for Trump, but he could still win. "It's obvious that running against Harris is more challenging for Trump given the shift in these numbers, but it's certainly not insurmountable," Wolking was quoted as saying, as he stressed the importance of Trump maintaining focus in his campaign to avoid alienating potential voters.
Rising Enthusiasm Among Democrats
The poll also highlights a surge in enthusiasm among Democratic voters. A significant 73% of Democratic registered voters expressed increased excitement about voting in November following Harris's entry into the race. In contrast to earlier polls, where many of President Joe Biden’s supporters were primarily motivated by opposition to Trump, the latest survey found that 52% of Harris voters are backing her as a candidate in her own right.
However, Trump voters remain committed, with 64% indicating their support is driven by enthusiasm for Trump rather than opposition to Harris.
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Key Issues In Focus This US Election
The poll also reveals voter preferences on key issues.
Trump is viewed more favourably on economic management, leading Harris 45% to 36% on this issue.
Conversely, Harris holds a substantial lead on abortion policy, with a 47% to 31% advantage, a topic of significant concern for many voters. The Supreme Court had in a 2022 decision overturned the national right to abortion.
The survey included responses from 4,253 US adults, 3,562 of whom are registered voters.