- Kamala Harris is more popular than Donald Trump in three swing states, according to polls.
U.S. Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Leads in Key States Against Donald Trump
According to recent polls by "The New York Times" and Siena College, U.S. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is ahead of her challenger, Donald Trump, in three crucial states. In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, the Democrat stands at 50% among likely voters, while the Republican trails at 46% in all three states.
These three populous Midwest states are considered pivotal for both parties in the U.S. electoral system. Known as "Swing States," they often determine the outcome of U.S. Presidential elections.
Biden's Support Wanes, Harris Brings Voters Back
This reverses the poll results in these three states where Trump had been neck-and-neck with or slightly ahead of the incumbent President Joe Biden, who was previously running for re-election.
However, Biden's support had faced protests and resistance in these states due to the U.S. government's backing of Israel's actions in Gaza. This was particularly true among liberal, Muslim-American, and Arab-American groups in Michigan. Around 200,000 voters in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan refused to support Biden in the Democratic primaries, citing his Gaza policy.
Since Biden stepped down from his presidential bid and passed the baton to his Vice President, Kamala Harris, the Democratic campaign has gained new momentum. Harris has publicly advocated for Palestinian human rights and shifted the Democrats' tone, though she hasn't shown significant policy differences from Biden on the issue.
Harris-Walz Duo Dents Trump's Popularity
In Pennsylvania, Harris' popularity among registered voters surged by 10 percentage points in just one month, according to the "New York Times" and Siena College poll. Voters said they found Harris more intelligent and better suited to govern the country than Trump.
Among Democrats, satisfaction with their candidates in the three states has jumped by 27 percentage points since May.
Democrats are buoyed by the enthusiasm surrounding Harris' candidacy. Many express relief that the 81-year-old Biden is no longer in the race for the White House. Harris' choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for Vice President also seems to have further energized the party. The enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz duo has checked Trump's growing popularity, which he enjoyed after the attempted assassination on him on July 13 and the Republican National Convention.
Democrats Shouldn't Get Too Comfortable
However, observers caution Democrats against excessive optimism, as Trump still leads in national polls. According to the new poll, voters prefer Trump on central issues like the economy and immigration, while Harris leads by 24 percentage points on who to trust more on the abortion issue.
The race between Harris and Trump is likely to be close. Much can change before the Presidential election on November 5.
In response to shifting voter preferences, other Democratic groups have started backing Kamala Harris for the presidency, seeing her as a stronger contender against Trump's economic and immigration policies. Despite Harris' lead in key states, there are still other important issues where Trump maintains an advantage, such as trust on the abortion issue.
