Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Tight Race as Election Day Approaches

With just two weeks left until the U.S. presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are engaged in a fiercely competitive race, according to recent polling data. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from October 16 to October 21 showed Harris leading Trump by 3 percentage points, with 46 percent of the vote compared to Trump’s 43 percent among 4,129 adults surveyed.

The poll indicates that while Harris has a slight national advantage, the margin among likely voters remains close, with Harris favored by 48 percent and Trump by 45 percent. However, the reliability of polling data is uncertain, given past underestimations of Trump’s support in the 2016 and 2020 elections and Democratic backing in the 2022 midterms.

In key battleground states, the race is virtually tied. According to FiveThirtyEight‘s daily election tracker, Harris has a narrow lead in national polling but is neck-and-neck with Trump in critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada. Trump holds slight leads in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona, while Harris has narrow advantages in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

The latest polls also highlight voter perspectives on various issues. Trump is seen as having a better strategy for the economy and immigration, with 46 percent and 48 percent of respondents favoring him in these areas, respectively. Conversely, Harris is viewed as more capable of addressing political extremism and threats to democracy, leading Trump by 42 percent to 35 percent in this area.

Early voting has commenced in numerous states, including all seven critical battleground states. As of early Tuesday evening, over 17.1 million ballots had already been submitted. Both campaigns are emphasizing the importance of voter participation, with Trump urging voters in North Carolina not to let the aftermath of Hurricane Helene deter them from casting their ballots, and Harris’s campaign encouraging turnout through social media posts.

Harris has expressed readiness for the possibility that Trump may declare victory prematurely, stating that her campaign is equipped to handle any attempts to undermine the election process. She emphasized her primary focus is on defeating Trump and highlighted the seriousness of Trump’s past actions, including his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Upcoming campaign events include former President Barack Obama visiting Detroit to support Harris and later joining her in Georgia. Michelle Obama will also make her inaugural campaign appearance for this election in Michigan alongside Harris. Trump, meanwhile, plans to hold a roundtable discussion with Latino business leaders in Miami and return to North Carolina for a rally).