Trump-Harris race neck and neck nationally in new survey, pollster sees 'warning sign' for Dems
Former President Trump and Vice President Harris are neck and neck ahead of their first – and potentially only – debate in Philadelphia on Wednesday, according to a new survey of voters that has some pollsters seeing a "warning sign" for Democrats.
Harris leads Trump 49% to 48% among registered voters, showing a race that has tightened since August when Harris held a 3-point lead against Trump, according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist National Poll released Wednesday morning.
Among those who say they definitely plan to vote, the survey found Harris edging Trump by 3 points, 51% to 48%.
Trump, however, leads Harris among Independent voters 49% to 46% – a 14-point shift from August when Harris commanded an 11-point lead in a field that had multiple candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the poll found.
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Republican pollster Whit Ayers told PBS News that the swing in independent support is a "warning sign" for Harris’ campaign.
"She had the honeymoon period," Ayers said of the initial excitement that Harris generated among Democrats after President Biden exited the race.
The latest results of the New York Times/Siena poll released on Sunday also found the two candidates locked in a dead heat.
In that poll, Trump seemingly shrugged off a burst of enthusiasm for Democrats after Harris entered the race, garnering the support of 48% of likely voters, compared to 47% who indicated support for the vice president.
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The NPR/PBS News/Marist National Poll also showed Trump up with Latinos voters 51% versus 47% for Harris, a 9-point swing since August.
On the issues, the survey found that