Trump and Harris in Tight Race Ahead of Key Debate

Poll Shows Narrow Lead for Harris as Debate Approaches In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a virtual tie ahead of their first, and potentially only, debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday. According to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist National Poll released this morning, Harris leads Trump by just 1 percentage point among registered voters, 49% to 48%. This is a sharp decline from August when Harris had a 3-point lead.

The poll reveals that Harris maintains a slight advantage among those who say they definitely plan to vote, leading Trump 51% to 48%. Despite this, Trump is gaining ground among Independent voters, leading Harris 49% to 46%. This marks a significant shift from August, when Harris had an 11-point lead among Independents. Republican pollster Whit Ayers views this shift as a “warning sign” for Harris’ campaign, suggesting that initial enthusiasm may be waning.

Dead Heat Reflected in Other Polls

The latest New York Times/Siena poll echoes the tight race, with Trump and Harris effectively tied at 48% and 47%, respectively. The NPR/PBS News/Marist National Poll also shows Trump leading among Latino voters, 51% to 47%, a noticeable 9-point shift from August.

The survey highlights key issues where Trump is seen as more capable than Harris. He leads Harris on handling immigration (53% to 46%), the economy (52% to 48%), and the Middle East (51% to 47%). Conversely, Harris is favored on the issue of abortion, with 56% of voters believing she is better equipped to handle it, compared to Trump’s 42%.

Campaign Dynamics From Excitement to Close Contest

Republican strategist Kevin Madden describes Harris’ early surge of support as an “enormous sugar high,” suggesting that the initial excitement has now faded. Madden predicts that the race will be extremely close and will likely come down to a few critical states and a handful of voters.

As the debate draws near, both candidates are expected to intensify their efforts to sway undecided voters and solidify their support.