In a significant development ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), two major polls have shown Vice President Kamala Harris gaining a narrow lead over former President Donald Trump. The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll revealed that Harris secured 49% support among registered voters, while Trump received 45%. The remaining 5% indicated support for another candidate.
The CBS and YouGov polls, also released on Sunday, reflected a similar trend, with Harris holding a three-point lead over Trump. 51% of respondents stated their support for Harris, compared to 48% for Trump. This marks a substantial improvement for Harris compared to President Joe Biden’s performance in previous polls. The last Ipsos polls conducted showed Biden and Trump tied at 46%.
Interestingly, the Ipsos polls also indicated increased excitement among American voters for the upcoming Harris vs. Trump election. 44% of respondents expressed excitement for the November polls, a significant jump from the 28% who were enthusiastic about the Biden vs. Trump race.
The polls also favored Harris’s potential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, over Trump’s pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance. 39% of respondents expressed a positive view of Walz, while 32% held a positive view of Vance.
Harris’s recent gains reflect a narrowing of the gap between her and Trump. Earlier this month, The New York Times/Siena College poll found that Harris had overtaken Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, garnering 50% support compared to Trump’s 46%. This represents a significant improvement from President Biden’s performance in the same swing states. Earlier this year, the NYT/Siena polls indicated Biden with 45% support and Trump with 48% in Pennsylvania. Polls conducted in April and early May showed Biden leading Trump in Michigan (47% to 46%) but trailing in Wisconsin (46% to 47%). These recent polls suggest a potential shift in voter sentiment, favoring Harris and highlighting her growing strength as a potential presidential candidate.
