2024 Presidential Election: Harris and Trump in Tight Race as Early Voting Surges

With just two weeks remaining until the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the contest between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump remains intensely close. Early voting, which has commenced in several key states, has seen significant turnout, although the outcomes provide only a partial glimpse into the final results.

The latest polling data indicates that Harris and Trump are nearly tied in several critical battleground states. A survey by The Washington Post shows that among registered voters, Harris and Trump are at 47% each, with Harris slightly ahead among likely voters at 49% to Trump’s 48%.

In key swing states, the race is equally competitive. Harris leads Trump by six points among registered voters in Georgia and by four points among likely voters. She also holds narrow advantages in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. However, Trump maintains a lead in Arizona and North Carolina, albeit with diminishing margins among likely voters.

Early voting has seen record turnout in states like Georgia and North Carolina. In Georgia, over 310,000 votes were recorded on the first day of early voting, with over a million votes cast by the end of the week. Similar high turnout was observed in North Carolina.

The polling data also highlights differences in voting patterns between early voters and those planning to vote on Election Day. Among early voters, Harris leads Trump by a significant margin, 63% to 34%, according to a USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll. However, Trump holds a double-digit lead among those intending to vote on Election Day, 52% to 35%.

In terms of fundraising, Harris has outperformed Trump substantially. She raised $633 million in the third quarter, bringing her total to over $1 billion, compared to Trump’s $283 million in cash reserves and $160 million raised in September.

The campaign strategies of the two candidates also differ. Harris has been engaging in moderated discussions with former Republican Liz Cheney across battleground states, while Trump has been involved in more unconventional campaign activities, such as serving french fries at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

Analysts and betting markets are closely watching the race, with some predicting a tight contest in the Electoral College. Despite Harris’s slight lead in national polling averages, Trump is favored to secure the Electoral College according to FiveThirtyEight‘s polling model.