A recent New York Times/Siena College poll has revealed Vice-President Harris polling at the lowest numbers for a Democratic presidential nominee in decades. This news comes just ahead of former president Donald Trump's scheduled historic rally at Madison Square Garden, where he aims to make a play for the state's 28 electoral college votes.
The poll, released on Saturday morning, shows Harris leading Trump by 66% to 27% among registered voters in New York City. While still a significant lead, this marks a notable decline compared to President Biden's win over Trump in the city in 2020.
If these numbers hold, it would signify the worst showing for a Democratic presidential candidate in the city since 1988, according to The New York Times. The top three issues concerning registered voters in the poll are the economy, immigration, and abortion.
New York City has faced various crises in recent years and is still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns. The city also holds the highest median monthly rent for one-bedroom apartments out of 100 cities, as reported by rental marketplace platform Zumper.
Moreover, the city is home to tens of thousands of migrants, with spending on the crisis expected to surpass $5 billion. Mayor Eric Adams has warned that costs could escalate to over $10 billion by the end of the next fiscal year.
In addition, Mayor Adams' administration is under scrutiny following his indictment last month on bribery and corruption charges. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul's performance in the 2022 governor's race was lackluster, winning by only six points.
Former President Trump is set to hold a rally in New York City on Sunday, aiming to make significant gains in the city. In the recent midterm elections, Democratic candidates for the House won the state's popular vote by an average of nine percentage points, a notable decrease from Biden's victory margin in 2020.
Trump has been making strides nationally among Black, Hispanic, and younger voters, and he is looking to leverage this support at his upcoming rally. The poll, conducted from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23, involved 853 voters in New York City and has a margin of error of 3.9%.
On a national level, a New York Times/Siena College poll shows the two candidates deadlocked at 48% each, indicating a closely contested race.
