People watch the presidential debate between Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at a watch party hosted by the New York Young Republican Club, in New York City, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Adam Gray/File Photo 

Kamala Harris Leads Donald Trump by 5 Points in Latest Presidential Race Poll

Harris Gains Ground Following Debate

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris holds a 47% to 42% lead over Republican candidate Donald Trump in the race for the upcoming November 5th presidential election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over two days. This five-point advantage marks a slight increase from the four-point lead Harris held in the August 21-28 poll. The poll was conducted following a widely watched debate between the two candidates, which voters generally believed Harris won.

Debate Performance Influences Voter Opinion

Among respondents who had heard at least some information about the debate, 53% said Harris emerged victorious, while 24% believed Trump won. A significant portion of voters—52%—stated that Trump appeared less sharp during the debate, while only 21% expressed similar views about Harris. Notably, 20% of Republican voters also felt that Trump did not perform well.

During the debate, Harris, 59, put Trump, 78, on the defensive with pointed criticisms of his qualifications and his legal troubles, including his recent felony conviction for falsifying business records. According to the poll, 52% of voters familiar with the debate said Harris gave the impression of having higher moral integrity, compared to 29% who said the same of Trump.

Mixed Reaction Among Republicans

Despite the overall perception of Harris winning the debate, Republican voters were divided. Fifty-three percent of Republicans polled believed Trump won, while 31% said no candidate won, and 14% thought Harris outperformed Trump. Democratic voters, on the other hand, were more unified, with 91% declaring Harris the winner.

Public Engagement with the Debate

Ninety-one percent of registered voters in the poll said they had heard at least something about the debate, with 44% stating they had heard a great deal. The debate, hosted by ABC News, drew significant public interest, with 67.1 million television viewers according to Nielsen data. This viewership surpasses the approximately 51 million who watched Trump debate Joe Biden in June.

Age and Leadership Concerns

Trump’s age has become a key point of concern for many voters. In the poll, 52% of respondents said Trump, now the older candidate in the race following President Biden’s withdrawal from re-election in July, is too old to serve in government. Only 7% expressed the same concern about Harris, who is 59.

Harris Viewed More Favorably on Key Attributes

Voters also rated Harris higher than Trump on several personal characteristics. Fifty-six percent of those familiar with the debate believed Harris appeared more dignified, compared to 24% who thought Trump held that quality. Additionally, 49% of respondents said Harris seemed like someone who would listen to and understand their concerns, while only 18% viewed Trump in the same light.

Poll Methodology and Margin of Error

The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,690 U.S. adults nationwide, including 1,405 registered voters, with a margin of error of approximately three percentage points for registered voters. While national polling data provides valuable insight into the electorate’s preferences, the outcome of the election will ultimately be determined by state-by-state results through the Electoral College, with a focus on key battleground states.