Former President Trump has surged ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in the betting odds, marking a significant shift in momentum as the election approaches. Trump now holds a 10-point lead over Harris, his largest lead since July and the most substantial lead any candidate has had since then.
This development comes amidst concerns within Democratic circles following recent polls showing a trend favoring Trump. David Plouffe, a senior campaign adviser for Harris and former adviser to President Obama, sought to allay fears by emphasizing that the fundamentals of the race remain unchanged.
Plouffe stated, 'The recent panic is unwarranted as polls indicating a significant lead for Harris were not reflective of the actual race. The competition has been neck and neck since mid-September, and I believe it will remain a close contest without a clear advantage for either candidate.'
While public polling has shown a tight race, the betting odds have consistently shifted in Trump's favor, indicating a strong surge for the former president. Trump previously held a commanding lead of over 48 points against President Biden on July 15, which dwindled after Biden's withdrawal from the race and Harris' subsequent rise to the Democratic ticket.
Harris briefly led in the betting odds on August 8, with her advantage peaking at 8.8 points a week later. Since then, both candidates have traded the lead multiple times, but Trump's current 10-point lead on Sunday is the most significant margin seen so far.
Harris last held the lead on October 5, with Trump steadily gaining momentum to secure his substantial advantage on Sunday. Trump himself has highlighted his betting odds advantage, describing them as 'through the roof' in his favor.
