According to Reuters/Ipsos, Vice President Kamala Harris holds a slight two-point lead over Donald Trump in the latest U.S. presidential race poll. This marginal lead, 44% to 42%, comes after President Joe Biden ceased his re-election campaign and endorsed Harris as his successor.
The poll, executed this Monday and Tuesday, gauged voter sentiment following major political events, including Trump’s formal acceptance of the Republican nomination last Thursday and Biden’s campaign withdrawal, announced Sunday.
Harris and Trump previously showed a tied score of 44% in a July 15-16 poll, while Trump had a slight edge in a July 1-2 poll, leading by one percentage point within the 3-percentage-point margin of error.
While national polls provide a snapshot of voter preference, the outcome of the U.S. presidential election often hinges on a few pivotal states due to the Electoral College system.
In addition to the general election dynamics, the poll revealed perceptions of candidate competency, with 56% of registered voters affirming Harris’s mental sharpness and ability to handle challenges, compared to 49% for Trump. Only 22% expressed the same confidence in Biden following a debate performance marked by hesitations and mild responses to Trump’s aggressive tactics.
Furthermore, in a hypothetical scenario including independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harris would lead Trump 42% to 38%, a difference outside the margin of error. Kennedy, however, has not yet secured ballot access in many states for the November 5 election.
The online survey involved 1,241 U.S. adults, including 1,018 registered voters, reflecting varied national opinions ahead of the upcoming election.
