Harris closes in on Trump as she lands fifth poll win in 24 hours

Vice President Kamala Harris has closed the gap with former President Donald Trump, having won her fifth poll in just 24 hours, according to a recent Wall Street Journal survey.

In a direct matchup, Trump leads Harris by 49% to 47%, within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Despite this, President Joe Biden, who endorsed Harris as his running mate and withdrew from the polls on July 21, was trailing the Republican candidate by six points in a WSJ poll taken earlier this month.

Many observers believe the Harris-Trump contest will be closely contested, with Harris showing strong potential to win.

Dan Lamb, a senior lecturer at the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University, told Newsweek that Harris has gained momentum through impactful speeches and viral social media presence, along with crucial endorsements. He anticipates that her polling position may continue to improve.

“It’s unlikely that the buzz will fade anytime soon,” Lamb said. “Attention will soon shift to her vice-presidential pick and the DNC's delegate voting starting in early August, followed by the DNC convention. The coming weeks could be very favorable for her polling.”

Grant Davis Reeher, a professor at Syracuse University, remarked to WSJ that the tightening race is not unexpected given Harris’s distinct position from Biden and her early strong performance. Reeher noted that Harris has secured significant endorsements and funding, enhancing her public perception of viability.

“Her early performance has been solid, and the positive press is contributing to her boost,” Reeher said. “However, it remains to be seen if she can gain ground in key battleground states. While newer polling might provide more clarity, she still has work to do.”

In the meantime, a Fox News poll released on Friday indicated that Trump's influence in Michigan is waning.