Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a slight edge over former President Donald Trump in a new poll released on Tuesday, which examined which candidate voters perceive as representing change. The latest national poll indicates that if the election were held today, 49% of respondents would vote for Harris, while 46% would vote for Trump. This marks the first time Harris has led Trump in the poll since President Biden dropped out in July.
Harris has a narrow lead among respondents who view her, rather than Trump, as a departure from the status quo, with 46% favoring her compared to 44% for the former president. This lead for Harris is more pronounced among non-White and younger voters, with 61% and 58% respectively supporting her, as opposed to 29% of non-White and 34% of younger voters favoring Trump.
Despite Harris's slight lead in the poll, Trump continues to hold the majority of voter trust on key issues, particularly the economy, where he garnered 48% compared to Harris's 46%. It is important to note that while national polls provide insight into the general sentiment among Americans, they do not always accurately predict election outcomes, which often hinge on crucial battleground states.
In a recent survey of registered voters in North Carolina, considered a pivotal battleground state, Harris holds a 2 percentage-point lead over Trump, with 50% supporting her compared to 48% for Trump. This represents a 3-point shift in the presidential race from the previous month when Trump was ahead by 1 point (50% to 49%). Respondents in this poll also indicated that they believe Trump is better equipped to handle the economy and ensure national security.
