In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Republican Donald Trump by a slim margin of 45% to 42% as the race for the November 5 presidential election intensifies. The poll indicates that voter enthusiasm is on the rise, particularly among Democrats, compared to the 2020 election cycle.
The latest survey, which closed on Sunday, shows that 78% of registered voters are “completely certain” they will participate in the upcoming election, an increase from 74% during the same period in 2020. This sentiment is shared across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans expressing certainty about voting.
Harris entered the presidential race in July following President Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign after a lackluster debate performance against Trump. Despite Trump’s initial status as a frontrunner, buoyed by perceptions of economic strength amid recent inflation issues, Harris has gained ground on several key issues.
The poll reveals that voters prefer Harris over Trump when it comes to healthcare policy and handling political extremism. She leads Trump by 5 points on issues related to political threats and by 14 points on healthcare. However, Trump is viewed as the better candidate for managing the economy, leading Harris by 5 points in that regard.
The poll highlights the critical nature of battleground states in determining the election outcome. While national polling offers insights into voter sentiment, the Electoral College ultimately decides the winner, and both candidates are closely matched in key states.
Voter turnout will be crucial, especially given the historical turnout rate of just two-thirds in the 2020 election, which marked the highest in over a century. Despite high engagement, neither candidate enjoys overwhelming popularity, with only 46% of voters holding a favorable opinion of Harris and 42% viewing Trump positively.
This latest poll surveyed 938 U.S. adults, including 807 registered voters, with a margin of error of approximately 4 percentage points. Among likely voters, Harris’s lead over Trump increases slightly to 47% to 44%.
