Harris continues to struggle.
Former President Donald Trump continues to lead nationally in the polls, despite a surge of interest in the Democratic side following Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the race. According to a New York Times/Siena poll released on Sunday, Trump has the support of 48% of likely voters, while Harris is backed by 47%.
This result mirrors the poll’s previous findings after President Biden withdrew from the race in late July, where Trump also led 48-47. Despite a noticeable boost in enthusiasm for Harris and the Democratic ticket, the New York Times notes that Trump’s support remains “remarkably resilient” amid significant shifts in the election dynamics.
The poll indicates that Harris has yet to persuade voters with her vision, as 28% of respondents said they need more information about her before committing their support. In contrast, only 9% of respondents expressed similar uncertainties about Trump.
Harris faces challenges in overcoming traditional Democratic strengths, such as support among women and Latino voters, and addressing the widespread desire for change. The poll reveals that 60% of voters seek significant policy changes from Biden’s administration, with only 25% believing Harris would provide that change, compared to 53% who think Trump would. However, Harris maintains an enthusiasm advantage with 91% of Democrats expressing strong motivation to vote, compared to 85% of Republicans.
The New York Times/Siena poll, conducted between September 3 and September 6 with a sample of 1,695 registered voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
