Harris Widens Lead Over Trump in Latest Polls as Enthusiasm Grows Among Democratic Voters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice President Kamala Harris has extended her lead over former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday. The poll shows Harris ahead of Trump by 4 percentage points, a notable increase from her slim 1-point lead in late July. This shift is driven by increased support among women and Hispanic voters, as well as a surge in enthusiasm from Democratic voters following Harris’ formal entry into the race.
Growing Support Among Key Demographics
Harris leads Trump 49% to 36% among both women and Hispanic voters, widening her margins from previous polls. In contrast, Trump continues to hold a strong lead among white voters and men, although his advantage among voters without a college degree has diminished from 14 points in July to just 7 points in the latest survey.
Impact of Biden’s Exit
The race took a dramatic turn in late July when President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid after a poor debate performance. This move has seemingly benefited Harris, who has since gained ground against Trump in national polls and key swing states. Despite Trump maintaining a narrow lead over Harris in the seven battleground states that decided the 2020 election, Harris is either leading or tied with Trump in these critical regions, according to a separate Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll.
Enthusiasm Surges Among Democrats
The poll reveals a significant increase in enthusiasm among Democratic voters, with 73% expressing more excitement about voting in November since Harris entered the race. Notably, more than half of Harris supporters (52%) are voting for her because they support her as a candidate, rather than primarily to oppose Trump. This is a shift from earlier in the year when most Democratic voters were motivated mainly by a desire to prevent Trump’s return to the White House.
Key Issues and Voter Sentiments
While Trump leads Harris on economic issues, with 45% of voters favoring his approach to managing the economy compared to 36% for Harris, the Vice President holds a strong advantage on abortion policy. Harris leads Trump 47% to 31% on this issue, which has become particularly salient after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
As the race continues, both campaigns will focus on consolidating support among their respective bases while attempting to sway undecided voters in key swing states. With just over two months until Election Day, the battle for the presidency is intensifying, and the outcome remains uncertain.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted nationally, surveying 4,253 U.S. adults, including 3,562 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.
