Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, is currently leading Donald Trump in the polls by a narrow margin, according to a new national poll. This lead, however, remains statistically similar to polls conducted before the Democratic National Convention. Despite this, Harris has demonstrated strengths in certain areas, including her campaign performance and trust regarding issues like protecting American democracy and appointments to the Supreme Court. Conversely, Trump enjoys an edge in trust regarding the economy, inflation, and handling the US-Mexico border situation.
Harris Maintains Narrow Lead in National Polls
The ABC News/Ipsos poll, conducted August 23-27, reveals that Harris holds a 4-point lead over Trump among all adults and registered voters, with 50% favoring Harris and 46% supporting Trump. The poll also finds that Harris maintains a 6-point lead among likely voters, with 52% supporting her and 46% backing Trump. While this lead appears significant, it’s important to note that it remains statistically unchanged from polls conducted before the Democratic National Convention in August.
Gender Gap Widens in Harris’s Favor
Despite the lack of a substantial post-convention boost, Harris has seen a widening gender gap in her favor. The poll found that Harris leads Trump by 13 points among women, garnering 54% support compared to Trump’s 41%. Conversely, Trump holds a 5-point lead among men, with 51% favoring him over Harris’s 46%. This is a marked increase from the 6-point lead Harris enjoyed among women before the convention.
Campaign Performance and Trust Factors
The poll also sheds light on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the two candidates in key areas. When it comes to campaign performance, Harris has the edge. 56% of Americans believe she is doing an excellent or good job running her campaign, while only 41% express the same sentiment about Trump.
Trust and Confidence on Key Issues
While Harris shines in campaign performance, Trump enjoys an advantage in areas concerning economic issues and border security. He leads Harris by 8 points each in terms of trust on the economy and inflation, suggesting that voters are more confident in his ability to handle these matters. Trump also holds a 9-point lead over Harris when it comes to trust in handling the US-Mexico border situation.
Harris’s Strengths in Democracy and Supreme Court
However, Harris gains ground when it comes to trust concerning American democracy and the appointment of Supreme Court justices. The poll reveals that Harris is perceived as more trustworthy than Trump in protecting American democracy and in selecting individuals for the Supreme Court. This indicates that voters may see Harris as a more reliable champion of democratic values and as having a greater commitment to appointing justices who will uphold the integrity of the Supreme Court.
Takeaways
The recent polls highlight a tight race between Harris and Trump, with each candidate demonstrating strengths in particular areas. While Harris maintains a narrow lead in overall polls, her advantage stems from strong support among women and in her campaign performance. However, Trump appears more trustworthy in managing economic challenges and border security issues. Ultimately, the race for the presidency remains highly competitive, with voters likely to scrutinize the candidates’ stances on crucial issues and their perceived trustworthiness on various topics in the weeks leading up to the election.