As the Democratic National Convention nears in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former President Donald Trump in key opinion polls. On the eve of the convention, two surveys revealed Harris holds a three to six-point advantage over Trump in the race for the White House.
According to reports, Harris is ahead by 49% to 45% among registered voters and 51% to 45% among likely voters in a two-way race against Trump. In a more competitive five-way contest including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein, Harris maintains a lead of 47% to 44% among registered voters and 49% to 45% among likely voters.
A CBS News poll also shows Harris leading Trump nationally by three points, with a 51% to 48% margin. However, in the seven battleground states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina—Harris and Trump are neck-and-neck, each garnering 50% of the vote.
These polls reflect a surge in momentum for Harris, who entered the presidential race after President Joe Biden stepped down from seeking re-election last month, citing concerns about his ability to serve a second term. Harris's entry has seemingly reinvigorated the Democratic base after Biden's lackluster polling performance.
In a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, Harris appears competitive in the critical "Sun Belt" states—Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina—where Trump had previously enjoyed strong support under Biden’s candidacy.
Before making her way to Chicago for the convention, Harris made several campaign stops in Pennsylvania, a key swing state that flipped to Biden in 2020. "I still see us as the underdogs," Harris remarked during a stop in Moon Township. "We’ve got a lot of work to do to win over the American people, which is why we’re on this bus tour and talking to voters across the country."
Meanwhile, Trump, while campaigning in Pennsylvania, took aim at Harris, criticizing her stance on inflation and her prior opposition to fracking, a significant issue in the state. Trump also engaged in personal attacks, mocking Harris's laugh. "People tell me to be nice. But have you heard her laugh? It’s the laugh of a lunatic," Trump quipped.
The four-day Democratic National Convention, starting Monday, will formally unify the party behind Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Key Democratic figures, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former First Lady Michelle Obama, are expected to address the convention.
While Harris has quickly garnered support within the Democratic Party, there are also expected protests over the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza. A group of delegates calling themselves “Delegates Against Genocide” plan to push for an embargo on U.S. arms sales to Israel during the convention. Last month, the Democrats released a draft platform calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict but did not address the Palestinian death toll or call for a halt to U.S. arms shipments to Israel.
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