With just 25 days remaining until Election Day, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remains extremely close, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll. The poll, which surveyed voters in seven key swing states, shows both candidates neck and neck, with early voting already underway in several states.
Trump Leads in Nevada, Harris Ahead in Other Key States
The poll, released on Friday morning, reveals that Trump holds a slight edge in Nevada, leading Harris 47 percent to 42 percent. However, the rest of the swing states are in a virtual deadlock, with each candidate either ahead or trailing by 2 points or less.
- Harris holds a narrow lead in Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia, with her advantage ranging from 1 to 2 points.
- Trump is ahead by 1 point in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Given the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points in each state, these results indicate a race that could swing in either direction as Election Day approaches. In total, 600 registered voters were surveyed in each state between Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, with third-party candidates included where applicable.
Overall Polling Shows Trump with a Slim Lead
Across all the swing states surveyed, Trump leads Harris by 46 percent to 45 percent, making it clear that the election will be highly competitive. Among party loyalists, 93 percent of both Democrats and Republicans said they would vote for their party’s nominee, further underlining the partisan divide in the race.
Independent voters, who are often crucial in swing states, are split almost evenly between the two candidates, with 40 percent supporting Harris and 39 percent backing Trump. This razor-thin margin among independents highlights how tight the race is, with both campaigns vying for these undecided votes in the final weeks before the election.
Other Polls Show Similar Results
Polling from other major outlets also confirms the close nature of the race. A recent New York Times poll showed Harris leading 48 percent to 45 percent in Pennsylvania, though still within the margin of error. Additionally, the Cook Political Report found Harris with a 1-point edge in Pennsylvania, further emphasizing the state’s importance with its 19 electoral votes.
Meanwhile, Trump has been gaining ground in Arizona, where a recent Times poll showed him leading Harris 47 percent to 42 percent, a reversal from earlier polling. This poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.
Candidates’ Strengths on Key Issues
The Wall Street Journal poll also assessed voter confidence in the candidates’ ability to handle key issues. Trump was viewed as the candidate best suited to manage the economy, which was cited as the top issue by most voters. He led Harris on the economy by a margin of 50 percent to 40 percent overall, and also held the advantage on inflation and immigration.
However, Harris was trusted more than Trump on the issue of abortion, with 51 percent of voters saying they trust her on this matter, compared to 35 percent for Trump.
COMMENTS